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What Food Can You Bring on a Plane?

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Have you ever wondered if you are able to bring food from home on the plane? With so many rules about what can and cannot be brought onboard, we thought we would share the rules as well as our own practical advice.

It is perfectly fine to bring Tupperware containers filled with great food prepared at home. However, things like boiled eggs or tuna sandwiches might not be the best choice. The same can be said for McDonald’s French Fries. If you didn’t bring enough French fries for everyone, you probably should not stink up the plane with the delicious smell of fried food of any kind.

We will give you the scoop on Liquid Rules, Alcohol guidance and rules on medicine. We will even cover what TSA says about breastmilk. TSA Food Rules are very simple. The biggest concern of TSA agents is liquids and gels. Almost all food items are fine to take through airport security. 

The 3-1-1 Liquid Rule

You have likely heard of the 3-1-1 Rule. The rule refers to three core components that govern how many liquids you can carry-on to the plane. Each liquid must be in a 3.4-ounce or less container, all containers must be placed inside one clear quart-sized plastic bag, and each passenger is only allowed one plastic bag. This means that you can’t take a bottle of beer on the plane, even if it is capped. While you can bring mashed potatoes and gravy mixed, you cannot bring more than 3.4 ounces of pure gravy. TSA has recently relaxed their rules and no longer requires passengers to remove their plastic bag with liquids from carry-on luggage. This also applies to gels (like toothpaste, shampoo, hair gels etc.). It does not apply to breast milk, baby formula or medications. You cannot bring fuel of any kind on to the plane.

TSA Rules on Medications

You can travel with medication in your carry-on bag. Here are the rules: TSA allows larger amounts of medically necessary liquids, gels, and aerosols in reasonable quantities for your trip, but you must declare them to TSA officers at the checkpoint for inspection. Remove them from your carry-on bag to be screened separately from the rest of your belongings. You are not required to place your liquid medication in a plastic zip-loc bag. If a liquid, gel, or aerosol declared as medically necessary alarms, then it may require additional screening and may not be allowed.”

 

TSA Rules for Breastmilk and Formula

Mothers who are nursing children can bring breast milk or formula (and some other “nourishments”) through TSA security and onto the plane with some exemptions to the 3-1-1 Rule. The TSA Rules for Breastmilk, Formula and other related liquids is as follows: Formula, breast milk and juice for infants or toddlers are permitted in reasonable quantities through the security checkpoint. Remove these items from your carry-on bag to be screened separately from the rest of your belongings. Inform the TSA officer at the beginning of the screening process that you carry formula, breast milk and juice in excess of 3.4 ounces in your carry-on bag. These liquids are typically screened by X-ray. Formula, breast milk and juice in quantities greater than 3.4 ounces or 100 milliliters are allowed in carry-on baggage and do not need to fit within a quart-sized bag. Remove these items from your carry-on bag to be screened separately from the rest of your belongings. You do not need to travel with your child to bring breast milk. Ice packs, freezer packs, frozen gel packs and other accessories required to cool formula, breast milk and juice are allowed in carry-on. If these accessories are partially frozen or slushy, they are subject to the same screening as described above. You may also bring gel or liquid-filled teethers, canned, jarred and processed baby food in carry-on baggage. These items may be subject to additional screening.

Bonus: TSA Alcohol Rules

Wondering if you can fly with booze? Here are the official rules: Alcoholic beverages with more than 24% but not more than 70% alcohol are limited in checked bags to 5 liters (1.3 gallons) per passenger and must be in unopened retail packaging. Alcoholic beverages with 24% alcohol or less are not subject to limitations in checked bags.  Mini bottle of alcohol in carry-on must be able to comfortably fit into a single quart-sized bag. Please note that you are not allowed to consume alcohol on a plane that you brought with you in your carry-on.