The TSA has clarified what foods you can bring on airplanes, allowing passengers to pack everything from donuts to live lobsters, but many travelers remain confused about the rules.

At a Glance

• Solid food items like donuts, pizza, cooked meats, cheeses, and tamales are permitted in carry-on luggage without restrictions
• Liquid or gel-like foods exceeding 3.4 ounces must be packed in checked luggage or left at home
• Breast milk is exempt from the TSA’s 3-1-1 liquids rule for parents traveling with infants
• Live lobsters can be transported if packaged in clear, plastic, spill-proof containers
• Fresh fruits and vegetables have special restrictions for flights from Hawaii, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands to the mainland

What Foods Can You Bring Through Security?

The Transportation Security Administration has issued comprehensive guidelines covering approximately 60 different food items that travelers can bring on flights. Solid foods like vacuum-sealed meats, hard cheeses, dried spices, and packaged snacks are generally permitted in both carry-on and checked baggage. These items undergo screening alongside your other belongings but don’t face the same restrictions as liquids. Cooked non-liquid foods, including pizza, are also allowed through security checkpoints without special packaging requirements.

For easier screening, the TSA recommends separating food items when packing carry-on luggage. This prevents these items from cluttering bags or obstructing X-ray images during the security screening process. When food items trigger additional screening, having them easily accessible speeds up the inspection process. TSA agents retain discretion in allowing certain items through checkpoints, so organization is key to avoiding delays.

Solid foods, including peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, are allowed in carry-on bags with no quantity limitations or packing requirements.

— AskTSA (@AskTSA) March 25, 2023

Liquid Food Restrictions Still Apply

The TSA’s familiar 3-1-1 rule remains firmly in place for liquid or gel-like food items. This means any food with a liquid or spreadable consistency, such as peanut butter, honey, jams, dressings, or sauces, must be in containers of 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) or less when packed in carry-on luggage. These containers must also fit within a single quart-sized, clear plastic, zip-top bag. Anything exceeding these limitations must be placed in checked luggage or left behind.

One notable exception to the liquids rule exists for parents traveling with infants. Breast milk is exempt from the 3-1-1 rule and can be transported in quantities exceeding 3.4 ounces. However, these items should be declared to TSA officers at the security checkpoint for additional screening. High-alcohol liquor, cooking oils, and canned foods containing liquid should always be packed in checked luggage rather than carry-on bags to avoid confiscation at security checkpoints.

Glad you asked, Amanda. Fruit snacks are allowed in your carry-on bags. Please visit: https://t.co/bvhW5z21d4

— AskTSA (@AskTSA) November 25, 2016

Special Cases: Live Lobsters and Agricultural Restrictions

In perhaps one of the more surprising TSA allowances, passengers can bring live lobsters through security checkpoints. These crustaceans must be transported in clear, plastic, spill-proof containers that allow security officers to inspect them without opening the container. Airlines may have their own policies regarding transporting live animals, so passengers should check with their specific carrier before attempting to bring a lobster on board.

Special restrictions apply to fresh fruits and vegetables, particularly for travelers flying from Hawaii, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands to the U.S. mainland. These restrictions aim to prevent the spread of invasive plant pests that could damage mainland agriculture. When in doubt about any food item’s admissibility, the TSA recommends either checking the items in luggage that will go through agricultural screening or shipping them home separately to avoid potential confiscation at security checkpoints.

International Travel Considerations

Travelers should be aware that international flights come with additional regulations regarding food items. Many countries have strict agricultural controls to prevent the introduction of pests, diseases, and invasive species. While the TSA may allow certain foods through U.S. security checkpoints, customs officials at international destinations may confiscate these same items. This discrepancy often catches American travelers by surprise, resulting in the loss of food souvenirs or specialty items purchased abroad.

When planning international travel, consult both the TSA website and the customs regulations for your destination country. Food items that appear innocuous, such as fruits, meats, or dairy products, often face the strictest regulations when crossing international borders. For expensive food souvenirs, shipping items separately through commercial services that handle agricultural products appropriately may prove more economical than risking confiscation at a customs checkpoint.