I tried to take peanut butter through airport security.
— Patrick Neve (@catholicpat) March 15, 2023
TSA: Sorry, no liquids, gels, or aerosols.
Me: I want you to tell me which of those things you think peanut butter is.
You may not be nuts about it, but the TSA considers your PB a liquid.
The Transportation Security Administration's guidelines for keeping travelers safe while flying has differed over the years but one rule has stayed true: no liquid, gels or aerosols. These categories can cause quite a bit of confusion, as evidenced by Twitter user @catholicpac. His recent trip through security left him perplexed and TSA agents saying no nut today, sir.
TSA responded quickly with a tongue in cheek response explaining that peanut butter is defined as a liquid that has no definite shape and takes the shape dictated by its container. I don't know about you but I definitely failed middle school science so let me put this in layman's terms... if you can spill it, spray it, pump it or pour it you're SOL.
All of the replies to this tweet actually have me more curious about the amount of people traveling with jars of peanut butter in the first place. Everyone seems to be in agreeance that making folks throw away their peanut butter (not to mention; jelly, jam, hummus, Nutella, ice cream, salsa, etc.) seems like cruel and unusual punishment. TSA will explain that they are doing it for your safety and the safety of others. So they make you discard it. Not in an explosive-proof receptacle, but in a trash can. In the middle of the terminal. For your safety. Ya know, just in case it's an explosive.
A policy was established in 2006 following a terror plot that involved a homemade mixture of chemicals that was on at least 10 US flights. Due to these incidents, the 3.4 liquid ounces-only rule was put into affect. So pack your snack size peanut butter in your carry on and your full size jars in your checked luggage, since you can't live without it.
I mean honestly, can we just follow the rules? They aren't taking away your peanut butter for their enjoyment after all. Many people replied letting everyone know what they have gotten through (or accidentally snuck) through security, including a whole lasagna and two live scorpions in glass jars. I've personally seen someone using a small knife to peel an apple on a plane.
Any attempt to carry on more than 3.4 fluid ounces of any item you can spread will be done at your own risk. And that rules out peanut butter. Oh, nuts!
