"Looking like a bomb, whether visually or in an x-ray, is NOT the same as being a bomb. An ETD swab on the outside of the package should clear that up very quickly."

Yes, no doubt that will shorten security lines. It's not that putting limits on some carryon items speeds things up. I'd rather have someone bring along a suitcase of skippy and a gallon vat of hair gel, so I can wait in line behind them.

"Instead we have a moronic policy that is focused on finding things that look like bombs"

Yes, they shouldn't look for things that look like bombs. They should also stop looking for things that look like guns, evildoers, drugs, etc.

"and dealing with them using a response that allows for zero flexibility or reason."

You have flexibility. You can fill your entire suitcase with Skippy if you check it. I'm not sure why anyone would travel with an unopened jar of peanut butter, but you do have an option. You could also buy it when you land. It's sold pretty much everywhere in the United States. I'm rather shocked that I don't commonly read editorials by travelers who are upset that they can't bring full jars of peanut butter on board. It's such a common rational complain.

"The TSA should be stopping threats, not things that look like threats."

Well, in looking for threats, you find many things that look like threats. You have to treat them as threats. Police act in the same way when they see things that look criminal. Firefighters take action towards things that seem like fires.

"And while cheese consumed shortly prior to or during a flight might have the potential to cause some problems it is NOT a threat to the security of the aviation system and should be treated that way."

So we should now manually inspect each and every non-solid item that anyone wants to bring on board? That's efficient. It's not going to increase lines at all. While cheese might not be a threat to security, it certain can look like something that is a threat, so yes, it has to be treated that way. Any substance that looks like an explosive on an xray is treated as such. I'm not saying that hard cheeses shouldn't be allowed on board, but to say that the TSA should magically know what is and isn't a threat is not being realistic.

Depends on how the screeners feel that day,:D

true, but not if you travel internationally. Having seen home made snacks being confiscated by ICE/USCIS from a diabetic person with doctors letter suggesting such food to be carried.

Thanks for your efforts twisting my words. Very productive. :rolleyes:

Treat things that are threats like threats. To suggest that someone carrying a jar of peanut butter (not a liquid, BTW) or a block of cheese (also not a liquid) is a farce. If the TSA were to x-ray all carry-on bags looking for guns/knives and then swab everything that looked like a bomb the lines would move pretty quickly, especially for folks who have neither in their bags. The problem is that the TSA is focusing on non-threats (IDs and boarding passes, 3.5 fl. oz. containers, etc.).

I do not object to treating things that look like threats as such until they are cleared. I object to blanket rules that treat things that are not threats as such without any redress or flexibility and a general unwillingness to actually implement the technology that can be used to clear the threats. Instead of investing in ETD machines that would end the liquid threat farce (since we can't just let it go now that so much has been invested in convincing the public that such a threat is viable) we are investing them in mm wave machines and new uniforms and badges for the TSOs. I consider that a poor investment and a poor policy.

Whoever did that should be hanged upside down by their private parts. Respect is earned.

According to the TSA, I can bring a vat of KY with me as a medical necessity. How is that different than a suitcase of Skippy? Other than taste, that is... Do you think the baddies are really fixated on Skippy and won't see the genius of KY?

Wow since when did ICE/USCIS start hiring doctors to immigration proceedings? I really dont think they do, so if thats the case thats a pretty clear case of practicing medicine without a license and that can bring some pretty stiff fines and jail terms. Then again the average person probably doesnt know that and wont protest it.

Its kind of funny this came up as i had one of our medical control docs (who travels extensively to various conferences on EMS and emergency medicine, and hates TSA more then I do and probably worse then Spiff) recently write out a couple of scrips for me for various thing, but one included was a RX and standing orders(since i work under his license) with for mandatory rehydration while traveling and the order is (1) 32 oz electrolyte replacement fluid Q 4 hours/PRN to maintain adequate hydration. The plan is to slap one of those labels on my gatorade's when i travel next just to mess with TSA, and see if any of them react, then spring the trap, and make one phone call:D.

hmmm now may have to try this with a jar of PB....you got to keep the blood sugar up.

You're talking about a customs check, not a TSA check. The confiscation almost certainly had nothing to do with TSA stupidity. Certain foods are not allowed into the US from other countries. The list includes meats and soft cheeses. This is done to avoid spreading pests and pestilence. These rules have been in place in the US for many years. Most countries have similar rules

I was thinking about this thread over the weekend. All I could think was, so this is what it comes down to. We actually have to have a legitimate (i.e., not humorous) thread about whether it is okay to bring cheese onto an airplane. How very, very sad.

Mike

i take fruit and cheese back to my gramma from CA everytime i fly. I get cheese from trader joes (even soft goat cheese) and put it in a insulated lunch bag. They will want to check it because it is cold but you can put it in a sperate bin (still in the bag) or just know wthey will open your carry on to handcheck it. I have taken 4 sixpack size lunch bags back with no problems in one trip (filled most of my carry on).

as for PB you have the choice of jif to go cups or refilling a 3oz jar with PB and putting it in our quart bag or what I do= powdered Peanut butter. You just add water and you have fresh PB. Also good on sliced apples (just sprinke some PB poder in the bag and shake).

I have taken pudding, dressing and more just get small containers or toddler size and put in your quart bag. i once found 2 oz apple juice and took 4 of them!

For other refernce when i come home from grammas I bring frozen solid venison steaks wrapped in newpaper. (sealed from the butcher with labels)
Never had any issues but the Oklahoma/ark airports see lots of frozen meat.

;-)

My mom carries through the snack sized peanut butter and applesauce. She has a medical condition and declares it as medically necessary and is ready to fight for it but hasn't had a problem. For the person up thread who is diabetic, this should work for him/her.

It is technically a paste.

Jello is, of course, a jell. Pudding on the other hand qualifies as a paste.

The posters analysis is accurate. Your assumption is not. One must first understand what a possible threat looks like on the x-ray screen, which you obviously do not. Explosives come in all forms. Metals, liquids, paste’s, slurry’s, solid blocks, even clay like substances. So do foods. Well, metal foods not so much, but most people will get the point. Non-threats also come in all forms, no exceptions, but can often look like threats. Most times the only way to tell the difference is to investigate further, and sometimes that is not helpful and the safest course of action is to not allow the item/substance into the sterile area. At that point you have to options, abandon it at the checkpoint or be escorted out of the sterile are with your possessions. Your choice, not TSA’s. Any other characterization of those choices is “spin”, an intentional falsehood.

Because one has medical applications, the other does not.

Sounds like that game I used to play as a kid: Gel, paste or cream. Gel beats paste, which beats cream, which beats gel...

Seriously, wayyyyy too much time and effort on this ridiculous policy.

Mike

How strange that the former head of TSA, Kip Hawley, disagrees with some of his former 'frontline' employees. He says the liquid restrictions should have been eliminated a long time ago.

I guess if he only had the kind of training and inside knowledge his 'frontline' employees have, he'd know that liquids/gels/pastes/creams/etc pose a serious threat.

Imagine how much time and effort goes into formulating explosives that are pastes, gell's, and liquids. I'm pretty sure that the companies that make them dont think its a waste.