Is toothpaste a paste or a liquid?
 

I have been travelling in the US for over a year with a 4.2oz tube of toothpaste (not gel) in my carryon (not in the the 1 quart bag) with no problem. The other morning my bag got pulled off the xray line for toothpaste detected on the machine. The tube clearly state "paste" not "gel" but I was told that it was not allowed. Further more the TSA agent told me that "anything in a squeezeable container greater than 3oz was a no no!"

When did this new rule arrive. The web, the placards in the airport, etc, all prohibit liquids, gels, and aerosols, not pastes! There are some countries that specifically state "No Pastes" right on their signs but I have never seen this in the US.:confused:

A more accurate way of stating the rules as inconsistently enforced would be, "If it isn't bone-solid (marrow not included), it's a liquid."

Gasses and plasmas aren't on the signs either, but they aren't solid.

You got a nitwit of a screener who just made things up - there is no such rule, however 3.4 oz is the limit, but it has nothing to do with a 'squeezable' container. They consider a paste the same as a gel.

Your 4.2 container was over the limit, hence the involuntary forfeiture.

Next time, try harder to artfully conceal your over-the-limit liquids and gels :)

"Next time, try harder to artfully conceal your over-the-limit liquids and gels "

Or you could just be a grown up and ask this question before you get stuck in line and delay the travel of those behind you. It's not as if these rules are new. Over a million miles and you're global services and you seriously need to ask this question? :rolleyes:

Maybe it is because I have never run into such an incompent in the US before. Why is it other countries in the world specify "NO PASTE" when they mean no paste. Then are you telling me that if I am going on a fishing trip and desire to carryon my special bait which is a proprietary dough mixture I can not - seems to me dough is classified as a paste and thence is a liquid by your implications?

Yawn.

I prefer to artfully conceal my dangerous liquids. If it inconveniences you if I get caught, oh well.

Should the government break out Roget's Thesaurus? It's odd that even in this forum that I haven't seen any threads asking about paste before and yet you think it's a huge issue. Is a paste a solid? Ask yourself that question and you should pretty easily be able to reckon whether or not it is impacted by the rules in question.

It inconveniences everyone behind you if you get caught. Much like it inconveniences others if you bring too many carryons on board, throw your coat in the overhead bin before everyone has a chance to put a bag up, etc.

People like you are exactly why security lineups go slow. It's general selfishness and lack of consideration for others that causes delays in security.

General, don't be so hard on yourself!

You're not the cause of delays in security! Stoooopid TSA rules are the cause of delays in security.

I once asked a woman to surrender her water bottle because liquids, gels, creams, and lotions were prohibited. She angrily asked me why her water was not allowed. I told her that water is a liquid. She looked me square in the eye and said "this is water not a liquid". I shook my head apologized then walked away. I'm always surprised how open the rule can be to interpretation.

For the record, I have never met a TSO who indicated to any passenger that toothpaste over 3.4oz is acceptable.

What if the toothpase is 1/2 "sqooze out", leaving only 2.1 oz? Do the "rules" specify the original packaged amount, or the amount which is actually there?

Just trying to add a little more fuel to the fire. :D


DD

LOL there is a no haggling policy.

Exactly. The rules allowing medications over the limit are not new. Since dentifrices containing fluoride are FDA-regulated drugs (i.e. medications), they should be allowed in quantities in excess of 100mL (as long as they're declared to the screeners).

Only non-FDA regulated toothpastes should be subject to the 100mL limit.

Of course that would be a legitimate application of the rules, so it will never happen.

Periodic Table
 

If I ever have the distinction to work for TSA, I would carry a copy of the Periodic Table in my pocket. Whenever passengers are flummoxed about paste or liquids, I would retrieve it and give a quick discourse in basic chemistry.

Hahaha, even though I'm chuckling at this, it is strictly speaking correct, and I like it.

I wonder if the same would work with sunscreens in Australia (where it is regulated and requires a licence number) - and I do actually medically require sunscreen use.

:rolleyes: