Originally Posted by Bart
All you have to do is "declare" it.
When you encounter a screener who doesn't understand this, ask to speak with a supervisor.
So after the incident I asked for a complaint form, and a TSA rep gave me the biz card for the Customer Support Manager for San Jose and Monterey airports. I emailed her with my story, and a few hours later got a response saying that I was right.
Woohoo. I wrote back saying that it was pretty silly to have the flyers saying what's allowed, and what's not, 10 feet past the liquid-screening station, next to the xray station.
She also sent me a stack of pdf forms to fill out. I'm not sure if this is worth my time to claim $5 (6? 7?) especially since it is suggested that I find a receipt for this item.
Pretty responsive!