Last Updated on March 14, 2023
Key Takeaways
- You can bring solid snack bars like granola bars or protein bars on a plane in carry-on bags or pack them in your checked luggage
- The TSA is has restrictions on liquids or liquid food items that are spreadable or creamy but solid food items are able to be brought on to planes unrestricted quantities
TSA Snack Bars Rules
It’s the job of the Transportation Security Administration to protect travelers when they fly. So potentially dangerous items are restricted or prohibited from passing through the airport security checkpoint.
Here’s what the TSA says about traveling with snack bars:
The TSA considers snacks like protein bars, granola bars, or flapjacks to be solid food item. This is true even if the snack contains a liquid-like topping or filling.
That means that you can bring as many granola bars or protein bars as you want on a plane in either carry-on luggage or hand luggage.
The snack bars can be store-bought or homemade. They don’t need to be in sealing unopened packaging or anything like that.
When it comes to food-stuffs it’s only liquid, spreadable, or creamy foods that the TSA is concerned about. So, for example, there are some rules around flying with peanut butter but granola bars or protein bars are unrestricted.
It’s worth mentioning that for international flights you should always keep an eye on any regulations about importing foods into your destination country. Of course, these rules only apply if you don’t eat the item during the flight and most countries allow you to import dry packaged foods without restriction anyway.
Still Unsure? Ask The TSA
You can ask the TSA on Twitter using their @AskTSA handle if you have a specific query:
Juan asked about flying with an open bag of granola in his carry-on:
The TSA replied that solid food items are good to go in carry-on bags.
It’s the viscosity of a food item that is important for the TSA.
If you want to find out why then read this post.