Food in carry-on and checked bags
Two distinct rule systems govern travelling with food: security screening rules at the departure checkpoint, and destination customs rules on arrival. Food that passes through security may still be confiscated or subject to duty at customs. These are separate processes administered by different authorities.
Security screening: the key distinction
Solid food is generally permitted through security checkpoints in the US, EU, and UK without quantity restriction. TSA guidance explicitly distinguishes solid food from the LAGs (Liquids, Aerosols, Gels) category. A sandwich, apple, or block of cheese does not need to go in the 1 L bag.
Liquid and gel foods — soup, yoghurt, hummus, jam, peanut butter, honey — are classified as LAGs under both TSA guidance and EU Regulation 2015/1998. They must comply with the 100 ml per container rule and fit inside the 1 L transparent bag. See the liquids rule guide for full detail.
At some airports, powders (including powdered food, protein powder, and spices) are subject to additional screening. US TSA advises that powders over 350 ml may be subject to additional screening and may require removal from carry-on bags.
Common foods at the checkpoint
| Food Item | Carry-on (US TSA) | Carry-on (EU/UK) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sandwiches and wraps | Permitted | Permitted | No restriction at checkpoint |
| Fresh fruit (whole) | Permitted | Permitted | May be confiscated by destination customs |
| Snacks, nuts, crisps | Permitted | Permitted | No restriction at checkpoint |
| Hard cheese | Permitted | Permitted | No restriction at checkpoint |
| Chocolate and confectionery | Permitted | Permitted | No restriction at checkpoint |
| Bread and pastries | Permitted | Permitted | No restriction at checkpoint |
| Cooked meat (wrapped) | Permitted | Permitted | May be restricted by destination customs |
| Soup in a flask | 100 ml rule applies | 100 ml rule applies | Liquid; must be in 100 ml container |
| Yoghurt | 100 ml rule applies | 100 ml rule applies | Classified as a gel by TSA and EU authorities |
| Hummus and dips | 100 ml rule applies | 100 ml rule applies | TSA explicitly lists creamy dips as LAGs |
| Peanut butter | 100 ml rule applies | 100 ml rule applies | TSA classifies as a gel |
| Jam and honey | 100 ml rule applies | 100 ml rule applies | Classified as gels; subject to 100 ml limit |
Baby food and formula
Baby food, infant formula, toddler drinks, and breast milk are exempt from the 100 ml rule in reasonable quantities for the flight under both TSA guidance and EU Regulation 2015/1998. Passengers travelling without a child may also carry breast milk, according to TSA guidance.
These items must be declared separately at the checkpoint and removed from the bag for screening. Officers may use trace detection equipment or ask the passenger to open containers. Reasonable quantity is not defined precisely; in practice, officers assess based on the length of the journey and the apparent age of the child.
Gel ice packs used to keep baby food or breast milk cool are also exempt from the 100 ml rule under TSA rules, provided they are frozen or partially frozen when presented at the checkpoint. Fully liquid ice packs are subject to the standard LAGs rules.
Religious and medical meal requirements
Passengers with religious dietary requirements — halal, kosher, Hindu vegetarian — or medical meal needs (low-salt, diabetic, gluten-free) may carry appropriate food through security. There is no restriction at the checkpoint on food type based on dietary classification; the standard solid-food or LAGs rules apply depending on the food's consistency.
Many airlines offer pre-ordered special meals on long-haul flights. These must be requested at the time of booking — typically 24–48 hours before departure at minimum. Passengers may also carry their own food for in-flight consumption; bringing food on board is not generally prohibited by airlines, though some carriers restrict outside food in premium cabins.
Security rules versus destination customs rules
Passing through airport security confirms that an item is permitted on the aircraft for the flight. It says nothing about whether that item may enter the destination country. These are separate processes governed by different authorities under different legal frameworks.
Food that clears the departure security checkpoint may still be:
- Subject to declaration requirements on an arrival card.
- Inspected by biosecurity or customs officers on arrival.
- Confiscated without compensation if it does not meet import requirements.
- Subject to duty or import tax in some cases.
The distinction is important because passengers sometimes assume that food already on the aircraft — and not confiscated at departure — is automatically admitted at the destination. This is not correct. For destination-specific rules, see the traveling section and individual country profiles.
Fresh fruit, vegetables, and meat: biosecurity risk at arrival
Fresh produce and unprocessed meat present biosecurity risks — the potential introduction of pests, diseases, or pathogens not present in the destination country. Several countries with strong biosecurity programmes apply strict rules:
The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment enforces some of the strictest biosecurity rules globally. Most fresh fruit, vegetables, meat, dairy, eggs, seeds, and soil are prohibited or require declaration and inspection. Failure to declare carries fines up to AUD 2,664 (infringement notice) or higher penalties on prosecution.
Biosecurity New Zealand (Ministry for Primary Industries) requires declaration of all food, plant material, and animal products. Most fresh produce, meat, and dairy products are prohibited without an import health standard. Fines up to NZD 400 apply for non-declaration of restricted goods.
USDA APHIS regulates food imports. Many fresh fruits and vegetables are prohibited from specific countries due to pest risk. Most commercial packaged food is permitted. Fresh meat from many countries is prohibited. Declaration is required; penalties up to USD 10,000 for undeclared prohibited items.
Japan, the EU, Canada, and most other jurisdictions also regulate food imports, with varying levels of restriction. Commercial, hermetically sealed, and heat-treated products are generally lower risk and more widely admitted than fresh, raw, or unpackaged items.
- Liquids rule (100 ml / LAGs) — full detail on liquid and gel food at security
- Cabin baggage rules — full carry-on reference
- Traveling — destination customs rules by country