Taking food through airport security

[DisneyLoverUSA]

I know you can't take liquid/drinks through security because of the 3 ounce rule on liquids. So you have to wait until you get through security and then buy drinks but what about food? Can you take food through security or do you also have to wait until you get through security? I searched the airlines website FAQ's and couldn't find the answer to this one. TIA!

It has been years since I have flown and never have I flown with 3 kids at one time, so this will be all new to me. I don't want to take them all food with us then have to throw it away. If I have to wait until I get through security I will. I just want to be prepared.

2 MORE DAYS!!!!

 

[Meriweather]

You can take food through.

 

[Dax]

I know you can't take liquid/drinks through security because of the 3 ounce rule on liquids. So you have to wait until you get through security and then buy drinks but what about food? Can you take food through security or do you also have to wait until you get through security? I searched the airlines website FAQ's and couldn't find the answer to this one. TIA!

It has been years since I have flown and never have I flown with 3 kids at one time, so this will be all new to me. I don't want to take them all food with us then have to throw it away. If I have to wait until I get through security I will. I just want to be prepared.

2 MORE DAYS!!!!

Yeah, just nothing liquid. So you can get a burger and fries and bring it through no issues

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

You can bring liquid-like food, like a sandwich with lots of deli meat, or a thing of macaroni and cheese, as long as it's wrapped in it's original wrapping and it has not been opened. That last part is key. I'm not sure how this applies to home-made stuff, it's probably just the same. But you can stop by Panera and get a sandwich and a macaroni and cheese, don't open them, and you can take them with you.

You still obviously can't bring something like soup.

 

[Princess Dolly]

TSA is the best source of info rather than the airlines.
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/holiday.shtm

 

[lakelandgal70]

I took a bottle of water through security 3yrs ago during Thanksgiving. The TSA lady told me I couldn't take it but I needed it for health issues. She tested the bottle with some strip thing and then let me go through. After that I never tried to take another bottle through.

 

[Free4Life11]

What about toothpaste that is in a tube that says 4.0 oz but I have used half of it, therefore there's less than 3.4 oz in the container?

 

[4greatboys]

What about toothpaste that is in a tube that says 4.0 oz but I have used half of it, therefore there's less than 3.4 oz in the container?

Toothpaste is not a liquid so it shouldn't be a problem.

 

[Jestocost]

What about toothpaste that is in a tube that says 4.0 oz but I have used half of it, therefore there's less than 3.4 oz in the container?

It doesn't matter if it is half used or not. If the tube is larger than 3.4 oz. then you can't take it through security.

 

[Jestocost]

Toothpaste is not a liquid so it shouldn't be a problem.

Toothpaste is a gel and is subject to the 3-1-1 rules just like liquids.

 

[NotUrsula]

The rule on liquid/gel food products (such as peanut butter or yogurt) or liquid/gel toiletries (such as toothpaste, mascara or hair gel) is that if it will not hold its shape without the container it is in, then it counts for the 3-1-1 limit. Whether or not the packaging is original and sealed does NOT matter, according to TSA rules. Semi-soft foods (such as casseroles) that are frozen solid seem to be kind of a grey area; at some airports TSA will let them through, and at some they will not.

Salads and sandwiches can go through with no problems. Spreads on sandwiches or dressing on salads must be pre-applied to their carrier foods before entering the checkpoint area; if they are not already on the main food, and you have a condiment or salad dressing packet that you intend to open later to put on your salad or sandwich while on the plane or while waiting at the gate, then that packet needs to go through security inside your 3-1-1 baggie, but your salad or sandwich does not need to be in the 3-1-1 baggie.

 

[laurie31]

As others have pointed out, food is no problem. With kids, for sure bring granola bars, goldfish, or whatever they like to snack on.

I wanted to point out that you don't have to BUY your drinks when you get through security. We always bring Camelbak cups (any empty container will do) and fill them with water at the fountain. We add Crystal Light or Mio to flavor it.

The airport drinks are way overpriced. Water is free.

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

Toothpaste is not a liquid so it shouldn't be a problem.

Wrong.

It doesn't matter if it is half used or not. If the tube is larger than 3.4 oz. then you can't take it through security.

Toothpaste is a gel and is subject to the 3-1-1 rules just like liquids.

Yep.

 

[DisneyLoverUSA]

TSA is the best source of info rather than the airlines.
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/holiday.shtm

Thanks for the link

 

[TDC Nala]

What about toothpaste that is in a tube that says 4.0 oz but I have used half of it, therefore there's less than 3.4 oz in the container?

by TSA rules this is not permitted. the CONTAINER itself must be 3.4 ounces or less. You may get through with it, but if you get someone strict they might take it.

You can bring through security a sandwich with mustard on it, but you cannot bring through a jar of mustard. If you are bringing condiment packets you may want to put them in your baggie.

If you bring items containing peanuts on board the plane, the airline may ask you not to open them if there is a peanut-allergic passenger onboard. So it may be safer not to bring peanuts or peanut butter.

As for the toothpaste, the rules don't just apply to liquids - they also apply to pastes, gels or creams. So no toothpaste, yogurt, gel deodorant or anything like that unless it is in the right size container and in the baggie.

 

[crashbb]

You can bring liquid-like food, like a sandwich with lots of deli meat, or a thing of macaroni and cheese, as long as it's wrapped in it's original wrapping and it has not been opened. That last part is key. I'm not sure how this applies to home-made stuff, it's probably just the same. But you can stop by Panera and get a sandwich and a macaroni and cheese, don't open them, and you can take them with you.

You still obviously can't bring something like soup.

I have never heard of this rule, could you provide a link? Also, since when is a "sandwich with lots of deli meat" a "liquid-like food"?

I take food on the plane quite often and it has never been in it's original wrapping and unopened.

 

[MouseMomx2]

Just a tip if you are water drinkers...Brita now makes a bottle with a built-in filter. You can take it through security empty and then fill it on the other side. It has saved me a small fortune in post-security water purchases.

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

I have never heard of this rule, could you provide a link? Also, since when is a "sandwich with lots of deli meat" a "liquid-like food"?

I take food on the plane quite often and it has never been in it's original wrapping and unopened.

You're joking, right? I hope so, but I'll play along. Water is a liquid (we learned that in elementary school, or through life's observations). There is water in deli meat and deli meat, is unlike crackers which contain a negligible amount of water. Often people also have lettuce, cheese, sauce, or other vegetables on sandwiches. These items also contain a significant amount water. Ever cook down a tomato until it no long steams? I have, it's microscopic relative to it's original size. They are therefore, more liquid-like than say, chips.

It took 0.2 seconds of googling to find, btw.

Obviously, and unfortunately, some TSAs are more lax about screening which is how you've been able to get through. I wouldn't expect it at every airport, especially you, OP.

 

[thomas998]

I know you can't take liquid/drinks through security because of the 3 ounce rule on liquids. So you have to wait until you get through security and then buy drinks but what about food? Can you take food through security or do you also have to wait until you get through security? I searched the airlines website FAQ's and couldn't find the answer to this one. TIA!

It has been years since I have flown and never have I flown with 3 kids at one time, so this will be all new to me. I don't want to take them all food with us then have to throw it away. If I have to wait until I get through security I will. I just want to be prepared.

2 MORE DAYS!!!!

Funny thing is I saw a guy in the airport in Houston about a month ago with a large plastic bottle of tea, when I asked him where he got it because I was going to get some too, he said he brought it from home. Apparently he froze the bottle and it was a huge chunk of ice when he started his trip but because it was a solid and not a liquid they let him pass through... he claimed it did it all the time and only once in a while did he have to ask the TSA to get a supervisor so he could argue the point that it wasn't a liquid.... I haven't yet tried it but I'm wondering if anyone else has?

 

[crashbb]

:It took 0.2 seconds of googling to find, btw.

Better Google again. THIS is what it says on your link:

Food must be wrapped or in a container.

Nothing about original container. Nothing up not having been opened.

And, no I wasn't joking about the my question of a sandwich being "liquid like" (though I assume that your response was a joke). I've never seen a sandwich that doesn't hold its shape outside of a container - that is what (in this instance) defines a liquid or gel. I'm pretty sure that the TSA is not going to differentiate between the liquid content of a piece of roast beef versus a cracker.