I was just about to ask about the status of MREs and I'm glad I searched first!

My fiance just returned from Louisiana yesterday (9/15) after spending two weeks serving on a feeding crew based in BTR. He had an MRE that had been given to him by some young fellow with the National Guard, and he was trying to bring it home (he actually likes them, go figure ) It was in his carryon and it was confiscated at the security checkpoint. They wouldn't give him any explanation as to why it wasn't allowed.

So if the issue is the heater, would he have been allowed to keep it if he'd opened it and given them the heater pack?