Flying with Food

Bringing snacks or prepared meals on board a flight is a really great idea, but there are some things to keep in mind before you pack for your next journey.

In recent months, there have been some stories surfacing about people encountering issues at security and arguing over what actually constitutes a solid food.

Well, CATSA has some advice for travellers, to help get them through security without getting held up.

Liquids or any foods that are mashed, pureed, or mixed in a sauce - like smoothies, mashed potatoes, chilli, or stews are all subject to restrictions.

For a food to be considered solid, it must be solid at room temperature.

That means condiments, gelatin, pudding, jelly, jam, and other spreads all must be in containers 100 millilitres or smaller.

There is also a limit on certain powders and granular products, like protein powder, salt, or baking soda. Individuals can have up to 350 millilitres total in their carry-on.

These limits and restrictions do not apply to baby food, formula, or breast milk.

If you are hoping to prepare any food on the go, you can pack small kitchen appliances and gadgets - like coffee grinders, hand blenders, and cheese slicers - in your carry-on, provided the blades are under 6 centimetres.

Bringing a reusable water bottle is handy, but make sure it is empty before you pass through security screening, so you’re not wasting time in the line-up. You can always fill up on the other side.

Keep in mind, any food you pack on board and don’t finish before you arrive is subject to whatever restrictions are in place at your destination. That can pose problems if you have fresh fruit or veggies.

If you are bringing food into Canada, there are a number of rules that apply. You can visit the Canada Border Services Agency’s website for more details.

If you are ever wondering whether it’s safe to pack any kind of item - edible or otherwise - in your carry-on or checked luggage, there is a comprehensive, alphabetical list on CATSA’s website.