Do you want to take your favorite food on the flight back home to let your friends and family taste it? Are you also one of the people asking me if I can pack food in my checked bag?
If yes, rest assured that you can bring food in your checked luggage or carry-on, but there are only a few restrictions on the type of food you can carry in your checked bag.
The Transportation Security Administration or TSA has some rules for carrying food on a flight. One must follow those guidelines, or they will have to throw the food they are carrying in a bin or somewhere else.
We will go through all the food items you can carry with you on an international trip. But nowadays, the TSA is cracking down on food items being carried due to unknown reasons, so I hope you get a kind TSA agent at the check-in.
You can also get approval from the TSA for any items not listed in their policies, but you need luck to get through with it.
I know you are looking for a list of items allowed on flights, so letโs get right into them.
Which Food items are Allowed on Flights inside the checked baggage?
Can I pack food in my checked luggage for an international flight? A question that arises in the mind of most people who have booked an international flight for a family or a business trip.
So as I said earlier, You can pack food items for your trip, but there is a list of items allowed by TSA that I will discuss next.
Canned Food
One of the easiest ways to carry any food item is canned food. I have years of experience using canned food during my stays in different countries. All because I canโt adapt quickly to the food of another place.
So if you want to take your favorite food items, get them air sealed in a can, and they will stay good as fresh for several days.
Dips and Spreads
You can carry your favorite dips and spreads in your checked luggage. But pack it carefully as it can break and dirty all your favorite clothes.
If you want to put the dips and spreads in your carry luggage, ensure they are less than 3.4 ounces or 100ml, as TSA doesnโt allow more than 100 ml of a liquid item in the carry bags.
Frozen Foods
You can bring frozen food with you on a flight but make sure whatever you are bringing is pure solid, and the thing keeping it frozen, such as the ice packs, needs to be frozen too, or else TSA will implement the 3-1-1 Rule (3/4ounces or 100 ml of liquid item allowed in carrying bag).
Baby Foods and Breast Milk
Are you worried if you can bring baby foods or breast milk in the carry bag for your young one? Then rest assured as the TSA is lenient in such matters only until you bring these in a suitable amount.
The only thing youโll need to do is inform the checking officer beforehand, or you might have to get checked completely because of not informing on time.
Fruits and Veggies
Yes, you can bring fruits and vegetables on the flight with you, but you will have to eat all of them because fruits and vegetables are not allowed in certain states. Carrying such items that are not allowed can cause issues for you at check-out.
To know more about why fresh fruits and veggies are not allowed in certain states, Read all about it at the U.S Department of Agriculture. To my knowledge, these fruits and vegetables can spread plant pests.
Seafood and Meat
Yes, if you are a seafood lover, you can bring those items with you on the trip but take care of one thing, those items are frozen because liquid items are not allowed to be carried in checked luggage.
Baked Items
If you are a sweet lover, you would like to know if you can bring baked items on your trip.
You can surely bring baked goods with you but make them accessible for additional security checks by the TSA. Donโt hide the fact that you are bringing a baked item; inform the TSA as soon as you get your number.
Liquids and Beverages
Liquids and beverages are only allowed in carry-on bags, which must also follow the 3-1-1 rule. If you donโt abide by this rule, you wonโt be able to carry your beverage to your seat.
You can buy an expensive drink or fill up your bottle with water after you have passed the security check. Surprisingly, Alcohol measuring under 3.4 ounces is allowed in carrying bags but donโt start drinking on the flight as it can cause serious issues afterward.
How to pack food in Checked Luggage?
The only concern left here is how to pack food in checked luggage?
As we have discussed earlier, having canned food is the best possible option, and it is the safest way to carry food and is allowed by TSA.
You can also keep frozen items in an airtight jar inside the luggage tucked in the corner, so it doesnโt open and spill anywhere.
There is no hard and fast rule to packing food items in your bag. Just follow the food guidelines by TSA, and you are good to keep them however you want in the luggage.