TSA Rules For Flying With Food During The Holidays
Most Americans will probably be staying home this Thanksgiving and Christmas, but some people will still be getting on a plane to visit family. A few of those folks may even bring their favorite holiday dishes along with them. My mother is notorious for flying with food, even though I keep telling her we have supermarkets in Charlotte. I’ve even taken her to some of them. Doesn’t matter. She still brings groceries.
But this begs the question – can you bring all those tasty holiday delights on the plane with you? According to USA Today, the TSA has very specific rules about that. Some food items can be brought on board the plane, while others must be checked with your luggage.
What types of foods can you carry through security checkpoints? The more solid an item, the more likely you can bring it:
- Baked goods
- Meats
- Stuffing
- Casseroles
- Mac ‘n cheese
- Fresh vegetables
- Fresh Fruit
- Candy
- Spices
Of course, liquid-like items must be packed in your checked luggage. The TSA says, “If you can spill it, spread it, spray it, pump it or pour it, and it’s larger than 3.4 ounces, then it should go in a checked bag.” That applies to:
- Cranberry sauce
- Gravy
- Wine
- Canned fruit or vegetables
- Preserves, jams and jellies
- Maple syrup
Do you really want to gamble with sticky liquids busting loose and staining your clothes? Again, as I tell my mother, there are supermarkets all over this great land.
