The CDC encourages people to stay at home for the holidays, while TSA announces a travel notice on which dishes people can and cannot bring when traveling.
Reports from Fox News say CDC reiterates its strong warnings against traveling this Thanksgiving and holiday season. This comes after the recent surge of new daily cases caused by COVID-19. They are encouraging people to celebrate at home and host small gatherings.
Read also: Creative Ways To Celebrate a Festive Virtual Family Thanksgiving
However, those who insisted on traveling during this season were requested to do so as safely as possible. The CDC guidelines stressed on wearing a mask while in public areas, maintaining social distancing, and thorough washing of hands using water and soap.
Meanwhile, the Transportation Security Administration released a travel notice to let travelers know which items they can or cannot bring. This travel notice also identifies Thanksgiving dishes that can pass the security checkpoint and those that require to be checked in their baggage.
Based on a rule of thumb, if the item you are carrying can be spilled, spread, sprayed, pumped, poured, and is more than 3.4 ounces, it should be packed carefully and checked in your baggage. The TSA recommends storing those items in a clear plastic bag or other transparent containers since food items often need additional security screening.
In this way, it is easier to remove those items from your carry-on bag and place them in a bin for security screening at the checkpoint. In addition, to prevent foodborne illness, it is also critical to remember food safety by storing food properly when traveling. Ice packs are acceptable if you require to keep items cold during your trip. However, they should be frozen solid and not melted the moment they go through security screening.
Additionally, observing holiday food safety is also strongly recommended by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Simultaneously, the U.S. Department of Agriculture also gave some essential tips for handling food safely while traveling. Here are several Thanksgiving foods that can and cannot go through the security checkpoint.
Thanksgiving Food Items Allowed Through The TSA Checkpoint
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Baked products such as store-bought or homemade pies, cookies, cakes, brownies, and other sweet goodies.
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Frozen meat products like turkey, chicken, steak, and ham. These can be cooked or uncooked.
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Cooked or uncooked stuffing packed in a box or bag.
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Casseroles such as traditional green beans and onion straws.
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Cooked macaroni and cheese or the ingredients needed to cook it.
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Fresh vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, potatoes, Brussels sprouts, carrots, squash, yams, beans, beets, and radishes.
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Fresh fruits like apples, bananas, pineapple, pears, strawberries, blueberries, cranberries, kiwis, lemons, and limes.
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Candies
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Spices
Thanksgiving Food Items NOT Allowed Through The TSA Checkpoint
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Cranberry sauce that is homemade or in a can which can be spread.
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Gravy that is homemade or in a can or jar.
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Sparkling apple cider, wine, and champagne.
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Canned vegetables and fruits. This is stored with liquid in it and is not allowed through a security checkpoint.
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Jam and jelly preserves. These are spreadable and are not allowed as per rules.
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Maple syrup
Related article: China Defends Food Import Controls as Way to Prevent COVID-19 Spread
