Ellen Pompeo was stopped at TSA for fancy sunflower seeds — here are the rules for food in carry-on luggage

Even Dr. Meredith Grey has to interest astir TSA.

When going done information for a formation backmost successful March, “Grey’s Anatomy” prima Ellen Pompeo group disconnected nan alarms for a seemingly guiltless snack — sunflower seeds.

“I had a container of sunflower seeds, for illustration integrated sunflower seeds from [upscale grocery] Erewhon, truthful they were astir apt nan astir costly sunflower seeds money tin buy,” nan 55-year-old character told Travel + Leisure.

“They virtually held maine for an hour, and they brought nan explosive squad in,” Pompeo shared. “And I was, like, ‘What is happening? Is this a joke?’ “

She explained that nan Transportation Security Administration told her nan rumor was “most likely” a chemic successful nan packaging of nan unopened container of “super expensive, fancy, organic, cleanable sunflower seeds” from nan store.

When she asked if she could conscionable flip nan seeds, they informed her that they needed her to enactment and hold for nan explosive squad to analyse nan seeds.

“I almost missed nan flight. It was really, like, nary 1 would ever judge this! I was texting my publicist, saying, ‘I mightiness not get connected this plane, and you’re ne'er gonna conjecture why,’” Pompeo said.

On nan surface, sunflower seeds look for illustration a harmless snack to return connected a flight, truthful nan incident begs nan question: What foods are allowed successful your carry-on luggage?

While astir foods are allowed to beryllium brought connected a plane, location are a fewer rules that travelers should beryllium alert of.

According to TSA guidelines, coagulated nutrient items are allowed onto a level successful either carry-on aliases checked baggage. However, liquid and gel snacks are only allowed successful a carry-on if they abide by nan 3-1-1 rule, which allows 1 quart-sized container aliases travel-sized containers that are a maximum of 3.4 ounces successful volume.

Creamy snack items, specified arsenic dips, spreads, cheeses, peanut food and yogurt, are tricky erstwhile abiding by nan 3.4-ounce rule, truthful it’s amended to debar bringing them. Many of those options are disposable successful an airport’s post-security area.

Everything other is adjacent game, including bread, candy, cereal, cheese, chocolate, java grounds, cookies, crackers, dried fruits, caller eggs and nutrient — even a rotisserie chicken, seafood, vegetables, nuts, pizza, sandwiches, barren snacks, and the database goes on.

Some airlines besides let unrecorded lobsters successful a carry-on if they’re successful a special, clear, sealed, spill-proof container.

Travelers are urged to see organizing their carry-on bags truthful snacks are abstracted from different items, which tin make nan screening process easier and support lines moving if, for immoderate reason, a typical inspection is needed.

Officers whitethorn inquire nan traveler to abstracted items from their carry-on, specified arsenic food, powders aliases thing that whitethorn create clutter successful nan container and obstruct images connected nan X-ray machine.