What Travelers Should Know About Packing Food in Carry-Ons
Actress Ellen Pompeo recently faced an unexpected holdup at airport security when TSA agents flagged a bag of fancy sunflower seeds she had packed in her carry-on. The snack, purchased from the high-end grocery store Erewhon, set off alarms despite being fully sealed. The organic seeds caused enough concern to prompt a full inspection — including a bomb squad review — resulting in Pompeo being delayed for nearly an hour.
Taking the incident in stride, Pompeo joked about the ordeal and said she’ll think twice before traveling with Erewhon sunflower seeds again.
Her experience underscores how unpredictable airport security can be when it comes to traveling with food. While the TSA allows many solid food items like candy, sandwiches, seeds, and baked goods in carry-on bags, anything that resembles a liquid or gel — including dips, nut butters, yogurts, or spreads — must follow the 3-1-1 liquids rule. That means each container must be 3.4 ounces (100 mL) or less and fit into a quart-sized clear plastic bag.
TSA also advises travelers to pack food in an organized way, separating items like powders or snacks to help agents more easily inspect bags without delays. Even perfectly legal snacks can trigger secondary screenings if they confuse the X-ray machines.
To avoid hiccups like Pompeo’s, travelers should double-check the TSA’s food guidelines before packing — especially when bringing unusual or upscale grocery items. For more information, visit tsa.gov.
