The holiday season brings families together and causes the busiest traveling period of the year. If you're flying over the holidays and taking leftovers with you, you should know that airlines enforce strict guidelines when it comes to bringing food on the plane. Let's look at the five prohibited holiday foods on board and the safety precautions for bringing food inside the flight.
1. Alcoholic Beverages Over 140 Proof
Unsplash/Jez Timms
If you are traveling with alcoholic beverages, you should not bring anything that is over 140 proofs, which is equivalent to 70% alcohol by volume. Rum with 151 proof, such as Bacardi and grain alcohol, are included in this category. Moreover, if the liquor has less than 70% alcohol, you are permitted to bring up to 5 liters (1.3 gallons) in your checked bag. Regarding permitted items, mini-bottles of alcoholic beverages must fit comfortably into a quart-sized container.
2. Cupcakes in a Jar
When passing through the checkpoint, travelers can bring a bag containing liquids, aerosols, gels, creams, and pastes a quart in size, but each item must not exceed 3.4 ounces. During the holiday season in 2011, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) confiscated a cupcake in a glass container. The TSA categorized the cupcake as a liquid or gel, claiming it breached the 3-1-1 rule.
As it turns out, these baked treats worthy of being shown on Pinterest are prohibited in your carry-on luggage. Wicked Good Cupcakes made light of the event by offering a "National (Security) Velvet" Cupcake in a Jar to respond to the incident.
3. Gravy
Foods that are prohibited on airplanes include gravy, which is a holiday favorite for everyone. Therefore, if you are returning home from Christmas with some of grandma's wonderful homemade sauce, you should ensure that the TSA does not confiscate it while waiting in line. The gravy can be brought on board in a greater quantity by adding it to your checked luggage, or it can be packed in a small container of less than 3.4 ounces and brought on board as a carry-on.
4. Salsa
It is simple to recognize this zesty sauce as a liquid; therefore, if you need to bring it in your carry-on, pack a little container approximately three ounces full. When packing, it is important to remember that the liquids you pick must fit inside a plastic bag that is quart-sized. As mentioned, always choose the checked luggage option when traveling with a full jar of salsa, typically about 16 ounces in volume.
5. Soft Cheeses
Cheeses that are creamy and soft are believed to be liquids. Cream cheese, mascarpone, brie, goat cheese, ricotta, camembert, and Neufchatel are some of the varieties of cheese that should be avoided when traveling by airplane. Since carrying on soft cheeses is impossible, prepare your next Cheese Tray using local ones. At least string cheese and parmesan are allowed, so you have options, and soft cheeses are fine in checked luggage.
Safety Precautions on Bringing Food Inside the Flight
As you pack, ensure your food items can be easily removed from your checked luggage for a speedy inspection when you go through TSA. Avoid prolonging the already lengthy wait times by requiring an extensive search for that Tupperware containing "exotic casserole." It is essential to ensure that you appropriately pack each food item to avoid getting sick from foodborne illness.
Furthermore, ice packs are allowed during security screening if you need to keep objects cool during your trip; however, they must be frozen solid and not melted to be acceptable. You can also consult the website of the United States Food and Drug Administration for further tips concerning the safety of food throughout the holiday season.
