I realize this thread is four years old, but I had no problems bringing a few blocks of cheese (from Amsterdam) through Heathrow back to the states.

I don't mean to pick on you or be disrespectful in any way (especially since you certainly seem to be trying to provide useful information), but it's worth mentioning that this thread is about the TSA and what they will allow on a plane, and has nothing to do with what one is allowed to import into the US (aside from 1 - 2 posts that mentioned restrictions on soft cheeses).

Considering that both AMS and LHR have adopted many TSA regulations, like those silly machines, I found the post you are critisizing to be both helpful and relevant. I understood it to be about what security allowed onto the plane, not import restrictions.

Fair point... though considering the entire thread discusses the TSA (and not foreign airports' implementation of the various silly US restrictions), it seemed a bit of a stretch at first glance. Perhaps I was more thrown that this thread was randomly bumped after four years.

The cheese was in my carry-on.

The cheese stands alone.

Tsa said nothing about my two tuna salad kits today (including tuna in water). I had planned to check my bag but ran out of time.

.... but I was not allowed to keep my new jar of peanut butter on his trip. Argh. While standing for opt out screening with my DH I exclaimed, "Guess what?! Peanut butter is a gel so no peanut butter for us!" (backpacking trip) The TSA said in a very stern voice "IT'S A PASTE!" like I had just committed a major infraction. uh, okay.

I told DH on the way out of screening that we got to keep the two cans of tuna (in water) bahaha. I wonder if canned foods don't set it off for some reason.

:D

I just give up. There is no rationale. I was told point blank by the TSA "if you can spread it, its a liquid." Nothing about gel vs. paste. I guess this means toothPASTE is now ok as well?

On a recent trip from HNL (December), I found out I couldn't carry on my sealed jar of coconut peanut butter (which I kind of suspected but was hoping for the best). I had a lot of time so I went back to a take out restaurant and got 4 of those plastic containters they use for salad dressing etc. and portioned out my PB into those. Into my ziplock toiletry bag and on it went. Didn't even get a second glance. PB, the new beauty secret.

Yeah, well TSA seems to be spreading something pretty thick, and it ain't peanut butter.

Mike