Can you take turkey & gravy through the airport in GA? TSA rules on Thanksgiving foods
Around here, there’s no turkey left behind. Unless you really have to leave it behind because you can’t take it through airport security.
So, what does the TSA really say about bringing your turkey, gravy boat and bottle of wine along for the ride? Will they let you through or will they gobble up your bird with all the fixins? Here’s what to know:
Will the TSA confiscate your Thanksgiving turkey and side dishes?
It depends on what it is and how big it is.
“Here’s some food for thought. If it’s a solid item, then it can go through a checkpoint. However, if you can spill it, spread it, spray it, pump it or pour it, and it’s larger than 3.4 ounces, then it should go in a checked bag,” said a representative with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
What Thanksgiving foods can you take through airport security?
These are foods you can carry through a security checkpoint:
Baked goods. Homemade or store-bought pies, cakes, cookies, brownies and other sweet treats.
Meats. Turkey, chicken, ham, steak. Frozen, cooked or uncooked.
Stuffing. Cooked, uncooked, in a box or in a bag.
Casseroles. Traditional green beans and onion straws or something more exotic.
Mac ‘n Cheese. Cooked in a pan or traveling with the ingredients to cook it at your destination.
Fresh vegetables. Potatoes, yams, broccoli, green beans, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, beets, radishes, carrots, squash, greens.
Fresh fruit. Apples, pears, pineapple, lemons, limes, cranberries, blueberries, strawberries, bananas, kiwi.
Candy.
Spices.
However, these foods need to be in an accessible location of your carry on bag in order for TSA officials to quickly and easily screen the items.
What will you have to check in with your baggage?
The TSA says you’ll have to have these items in a checked bag:
Cranberry sauce. Homemade or canned are spreadable, so check them.
Gravy. Homemade or in a jar/can.
Wine. champagne, sparking apple cider.
Canned fruit or vegetables. It’s got liquid in the can, so check them.
Preserves, jams and jellies. They are spreadable, so it’s best to check them.
Maple syrup.
Here are more tips from the TSA when traveling with foods
Are you not sure if an item should be packed in a carry-on bag, checked bag, either or neither?
Download the free myTSA app, which has a handy “What can I bring?” feature that allows you to type in the item to find out if it can fly.
Or ask on Twitter or Facebook Messenger at @AskTSA. Travelers may send a question by texting “Travel” to AskTSA (275-872).
A tip on food safety:
It is also important to remember food safety by storing the food properly while traveling to prevent foodborne illness. If you need to keep items cold during your trip, ice packs are permissible, but they must be frozen solid and not melted when they go through security screening.
Have more questions about traveling for Thanksgiving? Let us know in the comments or email me at cmadden@mcclatchy.com
