The TSA has a boatload of rules to follow in terms of what you can bring on a plane and what you can’t. And those rules are further, shall we say, “enhanced,” by rules regarding what you can bring in your checked luggage vs. your carry-on bags.
Most of the rules make sense. They obviously don’t want anything on the plane that could cause a fire, or that someone could use as a weapon in the cabin.
And there are the food rules.
The food rules can admittedly be something of a pain. First, there’s the rule that a lot of people don’t even know about, regarding foods that are in powder form. And then there’s the bizarre issue about putting cheese through the scanner. But the “food” rules are the biggest pain.
Starting in 2006, in the wake of a terrorist plot involving liquid explosives, TSA has said that any liquid, gel or spread in your carry-ons has to be in containers or 3.4 ounces (100 ml) or less, and be placed in your 1-quart bag.
“If you can smear it on toast or eat it with a spoon, it probably counts as a liquid,” explained one report from Men’s Journal.
In recent months TSA even highlighted several popular foods that wouldn’t be able to go through the checkpoint:
- Hummus
- Yogurt
- Pudding
- Soft cheeses
- Honey
- Salsa
- Peanut butter
And yet, TSA also says you can bring sandwiches in your carry-on bags.
So you can’t bring a container of peanut butter or jelly in your carry-on (unless they’re 3.4 ounces or smaller and are in your 3-1-1 bag), but you CAN bring a peanut butter and jelly SANDWICH?
Well, OK then.
But wait, there’s more!
This past Friday was apparently National Pancake Day. And with that, TSA posted this gem on their social media channels:
Sooooo….you can put as much peanut butter (or supposedly hummus, pudding, brie, and other “spreadables”) as you want on your pancakes and that’s absolutely fine. But if it’s in a CONTAINER – then…THEN it’s subject to the 3.4 ounce and 3-1-1 rule.
I think even TSA realizes how ridiculous this inconsistency is.
I mean, I’m 100% a rule follower. But still…Oof!
Want to comment on this post? Great! Read this first to help ensure it gets approved.
Want to sponsor a post, write something for Your Mileage May Vary, or put ads on our site? Click here for more info.
Like this post? Please share it! We have plenty more just like it and would love it if you decided to hang around and sign up to get emailed notifications of when we post.
Whether you’ve read our articles before or this is the first time you’re stopping by, we’re really glad you’re here and hope you come back to visit again!
This post first appeared on Your Mileage May Vary
2 comments
Peanut butter looks like plastic explosive on the x-ray machine. A container of PB could be a container of explosive. However, if they let you bring peanut butter sandwiches, just spread your plastique on some bread and you should get through. You could even take a bite of it if they got suspicious. Wouldn’t taste good, but won’t hurt you (in small amounts).
Is that how it works Bob?