What food can I bring past security at the airport?

[cmusschoot]

I read the airline regulations as we fly a few times a year. I am a rule follower and am not trying to sneak anything on the plane that is not allowed.

I have found that there is a "grey" area with certain items...

We usually bring a sandwich and chips of some sort. Those items seem to be okay.

I have brought apple sauce and yogurt also, last flight however, I was NOT allowed the apple sauce (packaged in individual containers) but WAS allowed the yogurt (go-gurt type thing). The TSA agent took everything out of the lunch bag we had and inspected everything.

We were also required to toss a container of play-dough we were bringing on the plane. Mt son had to toss his and my daughter was able to keep hers. On our return flight however the play-dough was not even questioned.

We fly out of Chicago, I don't know if that makes a difference.
I say look on the website linked in prior posts and use your best judgement from there.

Happy travels!

 

[bavaria]

It's not grey. It sounds like you may not have understood the rules if you brought liquids and gels and did not place them in your 100-1-1 or 3.4-1-1 bag.

The GoGurt website says that the serving size is 2.5 oz which is less than the 100ml permitted, so it would seem that the TSA agent was taking pity on a traveller and permitted it even though it was not in the 100-1-1 bag. The applesauce most likely was more than 100ml. Mott's website lists it as 4oz, which is over the permitted limit.

There is no issue with the sandwich and the chips. They are not a liquid or a gel.

The Playdough is an issue due to the consistency (but also because it is very airplane unfriendly). Many of us advocate not even bothering to try and take it, because even if a TSA agent lets it pass, it causes a mess on the plane, can stain the seats and other passengers clothes, and the smell is increased in the very tight space on an aircraft.