TSA says these six popular snacks are banned from planes

"If you can spill it, spray it, spread it, pump it or pour it, it is a liquid," TSA says.

Jun 24, 2025 - 17:20

TSA says these six popular snacks are banned from planes

Enacted in September 2006 amid the post-9/11 focus on antiterrorism, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA)'s "3-1-1 liquid rule" requires travelers to pack all liquids, gels and aeresols that they bring aboard a plane in containers of no more than 3.4 ounces or 100 milliliters.

While the requirement now nears its 20th birthday, confusion about what exactly constitutes a liquid remains — on its website, the TSA states that "officers make the final decision on whether certain items are permitted into the secured areas of the airport."

As the TSA recently clarified to USA Today, six foods that are most commonly taken away include yogurt, hummus, cream cheese, creamy dips and spreads, jam, and peanut butter. Each Thanksgiving, the government agency also reiterates that pieces of leftover turkey are completely fine to bring as one's mid-flight snack while — depending on just how liquid they are — cranberry sauce or mashed potatoes could get taken away.

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'If you can spill it, spray it, spread it, pump it or pour it'

"If you can spill it, spray it, spread it, pump it or pour it, it is a liquid, aerosol or gel and must be packed in your checked bag if it exceeds the 3.4-ounce limit," a TSA spokesperson said to USA Today in a statement. "As always, passengers may bring solid foods such as hard candies, pretzels or potato chips through the checkpoint."

With some exceptions for baby formula and breast milk that can be transported in larger quantities, most food items exceeding the 3-1-1 rule will get confiscated during the security screening.

Other foods that consistently cause problems include frozen food that one transports with ice (as soon as the ice melts, it becomes a liquid that will get flagged at screening), canned goods (even if the contents are solid, they are sometimes flagged as liquid by the scanners) and nonsolid pet food.

In certain cases, takeout food packed in the same container can be taken away if it contains a particularly watery sauce or salsa.

All drinks and water bottles are subject to TSA's liquid rule.
Image source: Shutterstock

As liquid rule gets rethought, some airlines crack down on water bottles

On its social media accounts, the TSA has in recent years started to take a humorous and lighthearted strategy about reminding travelers that the best way to avoid problems is to pack any questionable items one can part with for a few hours into checked luggage.

When the X account for popular energy drink Red Bull posted "we say Red Bull, you say" at the start of the year, the TSA responded with "oversized liquid."

More on travel:

While some airports in Europe are moving toward fully scrapping their equivalent of the airport liquid rule, most travelers are still required to either purchase any hydration they need in-flight after security or take from what is offered by their airline.

As such, British Airways' choice to no longer hand out small water bottles on certain flights from the U.S. was met with immediate outcry from passengers who felt that they are being nickel-and-dimed (while travelers reported being told that the policy is part of a two-week test, the airline has not publicly commented on the scope of or reasoning behind the change).