When does food become a liquid?
Aug 8, 2015, 6:29 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Cambridge, UK
Posts: 261
When does food become a liquid?
As the title says, when does food become a liquid?
I have taken items such as oranges through airport security, which could have a substantial liquid content when squeezed. However I saw another traveller having their pasta in a very small amount of tomato sauce taken off them.
Also, does anyone know what UK airports are like if you ask to leave the security checkpoint to return the prohibited item to your car/relative/friend/stomach? I know the TSA allow you to leave security instead of giving up the item, but I'm not sure the UK airports offer such an alternative.
I have taken items such as oranges through airport security, which could have a substantial liquid content when squeezed. However I saw another traveller having their pasta in a very small amount of tomato sauce taken off them.
Also, does anyone know what UK airports are like if you ask to leave the security checkpoint to return the prohibited item to your car/relative/friend/stomach? I know the TSA allow you to leave security instead of giving up the item, but I'm not sure the UK airports offer such an alternative.
Aug 8, 2015, 4:07 pm
#2
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A scientific answer to your first question is not relevant to security theater. The answer is whatever the applicable security agency deems is a liquid is a liquid.
Aug 12, 2015, 3:24 pm
#5
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I had a small plastic container of apple sauce (about 6 oz) and went through about 10 airports in western Europe. But a humorless, unsmiling employee at ARN decided it was liquid and would not budge. So it is very subjective.
Aug 12, 2015, 4:14 pm
#6
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Also, does anyone know what UK airports are like if you ask to leave the security checkpoint to return the prohibited item to your car/relative/friend/stomach? I know the TSA allow you to leave security instead of giving up the item, but I'm not sure the UK airports offer such an alternative.
If an item that I am carrying is refused at security, can I return and check it in as hold baggage?
In most cases yes, you will be offered the opportunity to voluntarily abandon the item at security or return and check it in as hold baggage.
In most cases yes, you will be offered the opportunity to voluntarily abandon the item at security or return and check it in as hold baggage.
Aug 12, 2015, 7:50 pm
#7
Join Date: Jul 2007
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Gatwick airport last week.
I had picked up some pasta at the M&S Simply Food to cook when I got home that evening and put it in my carryon.
Going through security, the bag gets flagged.
"What's this?"
"Pasta"
"Didn't you read the signs about liquids?"
"Yes, but this is pasta"
"Pasta is a liquid"
"Huh? How is pasta a liquid?"
"You have to add water to cook it. That makes it a liquid"...
I had picked up some pasta at the M&S Simply Food to cook when I got home that evening and put it in my carryon.
Going through security, the bag gets flagged.
"What's this?"
"Pasta"
"Didn't you read the signs about liquids?"
"Yes, but this is pasta"
"Pasta is a liquid"
"Huh? How is pasta a liquid?"
"You have to add water to cook it. That makes it a liquid"...
Aug 17, 2015, 9:36 pm
#8
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Somewhere in Florida
Posts: 2,616
A: When the TSAhole is hungry.
I usually bring back quite a bit of cheese from Murray's any time I'm passing through NYC. I had a TSA x-ray screener decide that I couldn't bring it on-board and would have to "surrender" it. I made enough noise that another screener came over. Fortunately this TSA screener wasn't a typical <redacted> and he made similar noises -- apparently he'd transferred from another airport and was sick and tired of the screeners at JFK stealing food. HE called over a supervisor, brought me a complaint form and asked me to fill it out. I've been through JFK many more times since then but haven't seen the hungry <redacted> since. I doubt they fired her. I'm assuming she's now rifling through my checked bags for the wine bottles I often bring back from NYC as well.
I usually bring back quite a bit of cheese from Murray's any time I'm passing through NYC. I had a TSA x-ray screener decide that I couldn't bring it on-board and would have to "surrender" it. I made enough noise that another screener came over. Fortunately this TSA screener wasn't a typical <redacted> and he made similar noises -- apparently he'd transferred from another airport and was sick and tired of the screeners at JFK stealing food. HE called over a supervisor, brought me a complaint form and asked me to fill it out. I've been through JFK many more times since then but haven't seen the hungry <redacted> since. I doubt they fired her. I'm assuming she's now rifling through my checked bags for the wine bottles I often bring back from NYC as well.
Last edited by TWA884; Nov 8, 2018 at 9:16 am Reason: FT Rule 16 - Vulgarity
Aug 18, 2015, 3:48 am
#9
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My idiot brother in law tried taking several pots of Houmous in his hand luggage which did not fly.
It does make you wonder why liquid explosives are "more" dangerous that solid explosives.
It does make you wonder why liquid explosives are "more" dangerous that solid explosives.
Aug 18, 2015, 10:32 pm
#11
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They'll start demanding people get rid of said water, then be confused when a few terminals of people die from major dehydration.
Aug 19, 2015, 8:29 am
#12
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LOL, I do hope someone has the camera rolling when someone says "ok", unzips and starts eliminating his water all over the checkpoint as directed!
Sep 2, 2015, 4:07 am
#14
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According to security at CDG, this is "liquid" (something to do with being in a container 
) and I had to surrender it (no checked luggage):
For those unfamilliar with French charcuterie, this is how it looks once out of the box:
I am glad it wasn't Foie Gras 'cause I would have been really pissed at this one. But I am sure many tourists have that dangerous liquid taken away from them...
) and I had to surrender it (no checked luggage):For those unfamilliar with French charcuterie, this is how it looks once out of the box:
I am glad it wasn't Foie Gras 'cause I would have been really pissed at this one. But I am sure many tourists have that dangerous liquid taken away from them...
Sep 3, 2015, 11:16 pm
#15
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