As Thanksgiving
approaches, air travelers are preparing for what could be one of the busiest
holiday travel seasons on record. The Transportation Security Administration
(TSA) anticipates screening over
18 million passengers from Tuesday, November 26, to Monday, December 2—a
six percent increase compared to last year.
However, for those
flying with contributions to the Thanksgiving feast, understanding TSA’s food
transportation rules is essential to ensure a smooth journey through airport
security. While some foodstuffs can accompany passengers through security checkpoints
while stashed inside carry-on bags, others are considered liquids or have
liquid components, and are therefore subject to the 3.4-ounce rule.
According to TSA regulations,
solid foods can generally be brought through in carry-on bags, even something
large like a turkey, a pie or a casserole. Of course, food items may
necessitate some extra checks when passing through security, so the TSA advises
travelers to place them in an easily accessible compartment and remove them for
separate screening to prevent delays.
However, anything
that qualifies as a liquid must be placed to a container that holds no more
than 3.4 ounces of the substance. And, by the TSA’s definition, some things you
might night expect can be considered liquids (like peanut butter). The TSA says
that “if you can spill it, spread it, spray it, pump it or pour it”, your food
falls into this category and anything over 3.4 ounces of it will need to be
transported in checked baggage.
The TSA has even provided
a list of popular Thanksgiving comestibles, specifying which need to be
transported in checked luggage and which can be carried on.
Thanksgiving
foods that can be carried through a TSA checkpoint:
- Baked goods: Homemade or store-bought pies,
cakes, cookies, brownies and other sweet treats.
- Meats: Turkey, chicken, ham, steak. Frozen,
cooked or uncooked.
- Stuffing: Cooked, uncooked, in a box or in a
bag.
- Casseroles: Traditional green beans and
onion straws or something more exotic.
- Mac ‘n Cheese: Cooked in a pan or traveling
with the ingredients to cook it at your destination.
- Fresh vegetables: Potatoes, yams, broccoli, green
beans, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, beets, radishes, carrots, squash,
greens.
- Fresh fruit: Apples, pears, pineapple, lemons,
limes, cranberries, blueberries, strawberries, bananas, kiwi.
- Candy.
- Spices.
Thanksgiving
foods that should be packed into your checked baggage:
- Cranberry sauce: Homemade or canned are
spreadable, so check them.
- Gravy: Homemade or in a jar/can.
- Beverages: Wine, champagne, sparking apple cider.
- Canned fruit or vegetables: It’s got liquid in the can, so
check them.
- Preserves, jams and jellies: They are spreadable, so best to check
them.
- Maple syrup.
For those who are
unsure whether a particular edible item is allowed, you can search using the
TSA’s “What
Can I Bring?” feature on its website or the free MyTSA app. All you need to
do is enter the name of your item in the search bar to receive an instant
answer. If your specific item isn’t on the list, you can also ask questions via
@AskTSA on on social media platforms or by texting “Travel” to AskTSA
(275-872). Live assistance is available from 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. (ET), 365
days a year.
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