TSA stole my spices...need local source

[EMAW_KSU]

If the spices were unlabelled and/or not in their original containers/loose in baggies I can see why they would have been confiscated (not stolen). It could have looked like drugs to a TSA worker.
That said, I would call Whole Foods, and if that doesn't work, get small containers of the spices at a discount store.

Why would the TSA be looking for drugs?

 

[ellone]

What I want to know is, how do you know that TSA "stole" your spices? Seems kind of ridiculous to me.

If the TSA goes through your bag they tag it as such. I had peanut butter in a suitcase and that caused them to search it - I guess peanut butter throws off their sensors. They tagged it as searched. OP was your luggage tagged?

 

[Zoesmama03]

What I want to know is, how do you know that TSA "stole" your spices? Seems kind of ridiculous to me.

Yeah maybe didn't "steal" them but threw them out because of question.

My Kroger has a lot of spices for $1. I'd buy those and then just chuck them when I leave (or leave in the home). No need to carry home.

I'd go with this option. I shop at Sprouts too. Haven't gone for bulk spices though but I agree can't be that much cheaper than the $1 selections at Walmart, Publix or anything but if worried about it check for Whole Foods in area you'd be willing to travel.

 

[NewRVLady]

I once had a quart jar of BBQ sauce that can only be purchased in a few Southern states all wrapped up in bubble wrap and tape.
when I arraived-and opened my bag they had unwrapped it and it was just laying in my clothes

 

[jewjubean]

Just buy the small ones and leave a note for mouse keeping to bring the rest home- go on vacation and forget about the spices.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I have nothing to say about spices, but- I'm sure that the TSA stole a waterproof iPhone/camera pouch from my luggage on our way to Orlando in August. I had specifically remembered packing it, as the cord was sticking out and I had to shove It back in so I could zip my suitcase. When we were getting ready to head to Typhoon Lagoon and I couldn't find it, I just figured I had taken it out to rearrange or something. I was sure I would find it on my bedroom floor when I got home. Nope. I have searched my bedroom, all closets, suitcases....nothing. Seems like a weird thing to take, but perhaps it was cheap and small enough for someone not to make a fuss over? I mean I'm not going to call the airport/airline and fill out paperwork for a $12 pouch. Anyway, I'm not so quick to poopoo someone claiming the TSA took something from r utheir luggage...

How do you know it wasn't the baggage handlers?


Or the two groups working in concert.

 

[lepidop]

The Whole Foods close to WDW had a bulk spices area when I was there last year.

 

[justlook3]

The Whole Foods here in Texas sell spices in bulk. You sometimes have to search for them, my local is an old store (one of the first built) and they have them up on a counter kinda away from the grains so you might walk right by. I'd give them a call, many Whole Foods offer concierge service and they can have them ready for you to go.

 

[aribelle]

What I want to know is, how do you know that TSA "stole" your spices? Seems kind of ridiculous to me.

Because when I got to our rental home and opened up my suitcase with all my kitchen items there was a large empty space where the gallon bag of spices missing. Since they were in the suitcase when I locked it at home and weren't there when I opened the bag....TSA was the only one who had possession of them in between.

My husband thinks that they thought they were drugs.....yeah....in a suitcase with pans, whisk, kitchen knives, and all labeled with the names of the spices, my baggie labeled oregano or maybe the herbs de provence were marijuana. Or maybe my sea salt was rocks of heroin? Or the cornstarch was cocaine? And even if we follow that fantasy and it was all drugs carefully hidden among the cinnamon, ginger and garlic, then why didn't they come arrest me.....or just what hazard did my oregano/marijuana pose to the safety of the aircraft?

Oh and no, they aren't on the counter at home.....hubby is there. And there was a big space where the bag was in the suitcase....surrounded by boxes of other kitchen items.....very obvious "something" was removed.

Yes, the tag was in there, but as usual it was not marked with the number of the person doing the inspection.....which the TSA will tell you that NEVER happens. Hubby travels more than he is home, and his job requires some tools to be brought with him....so he gets screened almost every trip, understandably.....but in the hundreds of tags he has received he says there haven't been more than a dozen that actually had the number on it. Anyone else old enough to remember "Inspector No 12"? LOL

With all our travelling, this is the first time something was removed from our bag. Guess we've been lucky all these times.

Found that there is a Penzy's in Winter Park, went there and was able to replace almost everything, had to substitute a couple of the herb mixes.....and gave the folks at Penzy a chuckle with my purpose. Happier with the quality of these spices then anything Walmart or McCormick sell. Not trying to be a snob about spices, but someday treat yourself to one quality spice and compare the flavor and even just the smell of them.....you'll never go back to the $1 spices again.

Now...if I could find an authentic recipe for the Greek Moussaka at F&W today, I'd be in heaven.

 

[LJSquishy]

It looks like a place called Leaves and Roots sells herbs & spices in bulk, as should Whole Foods and Fresh Market (according to city-data for Orlando).

My local Fred Meyer stores sell bulk herbs & spices in the organic/health food section, which is a Kroger company so if there is a Kroger there I would check there or at least call.

I get why you want to buy in bulk just what you need. I'm the same way. It would probably only cost you 15 cents for some of your herbs/spices for your trip vs having to pay $1 each which adds up! I also hate throwing away empty containers, even recycling them.

 

[NewRVLady]

The Greek Moussaka at F&W uses fake meat- it's vegetarian

 

[tweety38]

TSA was the only one that handled your bag, how did it get on and off the plane?

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

The TSA is not searching your bags for drugs. Believe me, if they did search for drugs and found suspected drugs, you would be met at baggage claim and escorted away. t's a bit of hyperbole to say that they "stole" your spices. If they were in your bag, it's likely they were misplaced when your bag was searched. I highly doubt some TSA employee was too lazy to stop at the grocery store on the way home for dinner fixings and stole your spices.

 

[MrsPete]

We just got to our vacation home and while unpacking found that TSA took our bag of spices! I carefully planned what meals we would make over the next month and brought them along, so I didn't have to buy a whole bottle of spice for the 2T or so that we would need. Now they're all gone!!

This isn't helpful, but I'm imagining the TSA people at home this evening . . . trying to smoke your Lemon Pepper.

I betcha that's why it's gone. They thought it was drugs.

 

[okeydokey]

I have had a bag rifled through and my mom has had items missing from her bag. It wasn't TSA. It was airport baggage handlers. Theft is rampant behind the scenes at airports.

We always zip tie our bags. If TSA wants to get in, they can cut the zip tie and leave a note, but since we started doing this, we have not had one opened bag behind the scenes.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Because when I got to our rental home and opened up my suitcase with all my kitchen items there was a large empty space where the gallon bag of spices missing. Since they were in the suitcase when I locked it at home and weren't there when I opened the bag....TSA was the only one who had possession of them in between.

So, in a suitcase full of metal kitchen utensils and equipment, you'd have been concerned about possibly a couple of extra pounds of unused spices? Was that the only suitcase you brought, or could you have divided the individually lightweight leftovers among other bags?

 

[disneylove69]

I have had a bag rifled through and my mom has had items missing from her bag. It wasn't TSA. It was airport baggage handlers. Theft is rampant behind the scenes at airports.

We always zip tie our bags. If TSA wants to get in, they can cut the zip tie and leave a note, but since we started doing this, we have not had one opened bag behind the scenes.

There was a news article stating your luggage is accessible to any baggage handler and locks mean nothing. You can open a bag even with a lock and you never know until you find items missing. Possible someone put their hand in and grabbed the bag blindly. People put electronics in Ziplocs so they were probably surprised they risked jail for spices.

If they though it was drugs K-9 would have sniffed it or they would have waited for you at the baggage claim. I have brought spices back on trips and never had an issue. I would report it to the 2 airports you were at so no one else gets thing stolen.

 

[hsmamato2]

If the TSA goes through your bag they tag it as such. I had peanut butter in a suitcase and that caused them to search it - I guess peanut butter throws off their sensors. They tagged it as searched. OP was your luggage tagged?

My last trip home we had a big bottle of local barbecue sauce carefully plastic wrapped in each suitcase...it was also the first time we all got the TSA 'we looked in your suitcase' note also But the sauce all made it home safely.... OP, just go to the nearest dollar store/walmart/grocery and buy some cheap spices at a buck apiece- toss away when you go home.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

We stayed in a townhouse at Windsor Hills last year. The pantry had several types of spices and condiments such as salt, pepper, cinnamon, oregano, etc. Either the owner left them, or more likely, previous renters had left them behind. We left a can of cooking spray and a few other things. I'm sure future tenants would appreciate anything you leave there.

 

[aprilgail2]

What I want to know is, how do you know that TSA "stole" your spices? Seems kind of ridiculous to me.

My friend packed 2 big bags of chocolate in her suitcase to give out to the workers on a cruise she was going on- by the time they got to Florida they were stolen- so either the baggage handlers or the TSA.