Last Updated on September 27, 2022
Key Takeaways
- The liquid rules which sometimes prevent you from bringing food in your carry-on bag don’t apply to checked luggage
- For domestic flights you can put food in checked luggage without restriction
- For international flights you need to check if the food is permitted to be imported into your destination country
Airport Security Rules For Packing Food In Checked Baggage
The Transportation Security Administration don’t only screen your carry-on bag at the security checkpoint, behind the scenes they also screen all the checked bags to make sure they don’t contain any prohibited items.
The rules putting food in checked bags are much less strict.
With hand luggage liquid food is restricted in quantity, whereas solid food items are unrestricted.
When checked luggage, the liquids rule does not apply.
This means you can fly with most food items in checked luggage.
If you are packing fresh food or frozen food then you might need to use ice packs to keep your food cool. You can pack ice packs in checked bags too without restriction.
Alternatively, you can pack up to 5.5 lbs of dry ice in checked baggage too.
With checked luggage the main security concern is that a fire could break out in the aircraft luggage hold.
For that reason there are a couple of food items that shouldn’t be packed in checked baggage.
Food Stuffs Not Allowed In Checked Baggage
- Alcoholic beverages over 140 proof or 70% ABV – Strong liquor like grain alcohol is flammable (it’s a food right?)
- Cooking spray oil – While you can pack olive oil or cooking oil in checked baggage you can’t pack any aerosol spray oils
- Chefs torches – If you are a budding chef remember that you can’t pack a flambé torch in checked bags because of the fire risk
Foods Not Recommended To Be Packed In Checked Luggage
If you are flying with with any very expensive foods like saffron spice or wagyu beef you might want to consider packing them in carry-on baggage. If the food is not a liquid, creamy, or spreadable, then you’ll be able to pack it in hand luggage and it will be safer there.
There is always a risk when packing anything valuable in checked luggage because items in checked bags can be lost, damaged, or stolen.
If the carry-on rules for your valuable food permit, then consider packing it in your hand luggage.
Bringing Food In Checked Luggage For International Flights
When you are taking an international flight you don’t only need to consider airport security rules, you also need to think about the customs regulations of your destination country.
This includes returning home to the United States after a trip abroad.
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection want you to declare all food products when entering the United States. Even if it’s food for personal use.
Failure to declare food products can result in up to $10,000 in fines and penalties.
The main concern about taking foods across international borders is that a passenger might bring a pest into the country.
For this reason, dry packaged goods, condiments, spices, drinks, and canned foods are generally permissible.
But all fruits and vegetables are subject to inspection and must be clean and free from pests.
Milk, meat, egg, and poultry products are either restricted or prohibited from entering the United States.
Similar customs rules can apply for foreign destinations and before packing any food in checked bags for an international flight you should read the customs rules for your destination country.