Traveling with Food or Gifts? What the TSA Wants You to Know

When it comes to airline safety regulations, rules are rules. It doesn’t matter whether the flight is international or domestic, and even first-class passengers don’t get luxury treatment. To avoid unpleasant surprises, all gifts of any kind, checked or not, should be left unwrapped, because even those in your checked luggage could be unwrapped if an inspector felt the need to take a closer look. And if your gift is liquid, whether it’s a can of pure maple syrup you’re taking from Vermont to Virginia, a bottle of French perfume you’re bringing home from Paris, or a snow globe you’re giving to your favorite niece in Chicago, you won’t be allowed to carry it past the security point.

Foods and gifts are subject to the same carry-on regulations for liquids as any other items. The Transportation Safety Administration’s website provides a list of what you can and can’t take through security, but even they can’t think of everything. So if you’re in doubt, you’d be wise to call your carrier ahead of time, pack it in your checked luggage, ship it, or just leave it at home. Even seemingly solid foods like pies and cakes can be problematic because the TSA states that they might be “subject to additional screening,” which could mean your beautiful fruit cake will arrive sliced open or with holes poked in the center.

If you’re flight is nonstop any gift bought after you pass through security (such as in a duty free shop) will be allowed on the plane, but if you’re traveling abroad, it, too, could be subject to further inspection when you go through customs upon arrival.