TSA Reminds Travelers Common Pantry Staple Counts as a Liquid at Airport Security
The agency said the spread must follow the 3.4-ounce carry-on limit, and larger amounts should go in checked bags.
- The Transportation Security Administration recently reminded travelers that peanut butter is classified as a liquid under agency rules. The agency shared an explanation online regarding this classification and its security implications.
- Under TSA rules, liquids and gels in carry-on bags must be stored in containers holding 3.4 ounces or less. Because peanut butter conforms to the shape of its container rather than retaining its own shape, it falls under these restrictions.
- Gary Leff, a Texas-based travel industry expert, told Fox News Digital that peanut butter's consistency places it under the liquids rule. "You can't bring peanut butter, the TSA considers that to be a liquid because it conforms to the shape of its container rather than retaining its shape on its own," Leff said.
- The classification sparked online debate, with some travelers questioning the rule's logic. One Reddit user jokingly said, "I would invite TSA to drink a pint of peanut butter, then," while others suggested simple workarounds.
- Larger quantities of peanut butter can be placed in checked luggage for travelers who prefer to bring the spread. Leff suggested eating before arriving at the airport or packing permitted foods, noting that "Wherever you go that's not the airport is going to have better food at the same price.
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Travelers warned: This condiment faces liquid rule at TSA checkpoints
If you’re traveling through an airport this weekend and you’re carrying peanut butter through TSA security, you might want to check how much you’re bringing with you.
Popular pantry staple could get you stopped at airport security under little-known TSA rule
Peanut butter is classified as a liquid by TSA, meaning it must follow carry-on liquids rules at airport security. Larger quantities can go in checked luggage; a travel expert weighs in.
When you prepare your baggage for the plane, you probably carefully check the liquids, cosmetics and water containers. However, there are also apparently ordinary foods that fall into the same category of security control. Among them is peanut butter, which the American authorities consider liquid when transported in the hand baggage, broadcasts MEDIAFAX, [...]
TSA’s Surprising Peanut Butter Rule Could Trip Up Travelers at Airport Security
Travelers hoping to bring peanut butter aboard their next flight may want to pay attention to an easily overlooked TSA regulation: The popular spread is treated as a liquid and is therefore subject to the same 3.4-ounce restriction as other liquids, gels and aerosols carried through airport security, Fox News reports. The Transportation Security Administration recently reiterated the rule in a post on X, making clear that peanut butter falls under its restrictions for carry-on luggage. “Peanut butter is a liquid… we said what we said… this time with receipts,” the agency wrote. To bolster its point, the TSA shared a screenshot of a Google AI Overview explaining why peanut butter can be classified as a liquid. Under the agency’s rules, passengers may carry liquids, gels and aerosols through security only in containers holding 3.4 ounces or less, with the containers required to fit inside a single quart-sized bag. Passengers who want to travel with a larger container of peanut butter can still do so, but it must be placed in checked baggage rather than carried through the security checkpoint. Gary Leff, a Texas-based travel industry expert who writes the “View From the Wing” blog, told Fox News Digital that peanut butter’s physical consistency is the reason it is covered by the TSA’s liquids restrictions. “You can’t bring peanut butter, [as] the TSA considers that to be a liquid because it conforms to the shape of its container rather than retaining its shape on its own,” Leff said. Despite the peanut butter restriction, Leff noted that passengers are permitted to bring a wide variety of other foods through security checkpoints. “There are more things you can bring through security than you might even realize,” Leff said. Leff recommended that passengers either eat before arriving at the airport or pack foods that can legally pass through security, noting that travelers often face limited choices and higher prices once they reach the terminal. “Wherever you go that’s not the airport is going to have better food at the same price,” Leff said. Fox News Digital contacted the TSA seeking additional comment on the policy. The classification of peanut butter as a liquid has prompted plenty of discussion online, where travelers have questioned the logic of treating the thick spread the same way as more conventional liquids. “I would invite TSA to drink a pint of peanut butter, then,” one Reddit user joked. Another commenter offered travelers a straightforward way of avoiding the issue altogether. “So make your sandwich first,” the commenter said. The peanut butter discussion is not the first time a TSA social media post has generated debate among travelers. Fox News Digital previously reported on another unusual suggestion from the agency concerning what passengers can do while waiting at airports. In July, the TSA told travelers that bringing a hammock to the airport could be an option during an extended layover, writing on social media, “Nobody said you couldn’t bring a hammock to the airport.” The agency cautioned, however, that passengers should check the policies of the particular airport before attempting to set one up, since regulations governing where hammocks may be used differ among airports. That advice also produced sharply different reactions online. Some travelers argued that hammocks could become an annoyance or obstruction in already crowded terminals, while others welcomed the suggestion as a potentially comfortable way to endure a lengthy airport wait. {Matzav.com}
When you prepare your baggage for the plane, you probably think of liquids, cosmetics or water containers. However, there are also apparently ordinary foods that can enter the same category, and a rule of the American security authorities can create surprises even at airport control.
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