Not only have I seen this before, but I've seen both airport employees and TSA employees take water bottles, etc., through, obviously for lunch, and all of which I observed exceeded three ounces.

The practice isn't consistent, though. UA Dulles employees have told me they can't bring their lunches or water bottles through for work.

Another double standard...us sheeple just need to follow the rules because it's for our good, and goodness knows the TSA knows what's best for us.