What food are we allowed to take on the plane?

Other than the TSA business, there's no restriction getting on. Getting off could have restrictions.

When you fly to Europe, you cannot exceed the TSA guidelines for liquids. Liquids can be loosely defined to include soft food items, such as applesauce. When entering Europe, there are no problems bringing in whatever kind of solid food you want.

When you fly within Europe, TSA is not involved, so liquid restrictions will be different.

When you fly back to the US, TSA liquid guidelines apply again. You also should visit the website of US Customs to see what food items you are permitted to bring back with you. I usually bring fresh fruit/vegetables with me on the flight, but eat it or ditch it before I reach the customs point.

When you fly within Europe, TSA is not involved, so liquid restrictions will be different.

No kidding. At Manchester last week thet scoffed up my curry paste in its factory-sealed deal and the little kid behind me lost his friggin Play Dough.

Play Dough? That's not playing fair.

But I guess that curry paste is by definition wet. hmmm.

But Play Dough?

Disguised C-4/5 or plastique, I guess.

I used to be pretty good with moldable composites, but the only thing I've ever blown to hell with curry is my own belly.

I always bring a sandwich of some sort.. I do not bring fruit.. but I have also brought salads with no problem at all.

When flying within the EU it is the EU rules which apply. The EU rules are here, on the EU official website. My interpretation is (and this is what I have seen in practice), is that you can bring as many sandwiches, biscuits etc. as you like; but any liquid (and his includes curry paste and play dough) is limited to 1 litre in individual transparent packs of no more than 100 ml each. You could bring mustard or ketchup, so long as it was in individual portion sachets of < 100 ml.

Thanks for that Ed. You just gave me a stunning image of the opening scene of 'Slumdog Millionaire'.

Here's another story:

On a flight back from Madrid, I packed along a big, varied lunch, including a stinky 'Bacalao & Chorizo' sub sandwich.

We had been traveling solo for a month and the airport security wanted more proof of where we'd been.
They sent us to secondary inspection, rifled through our dirty clothes and all effects, while trying to ascertain what we'd been doing.
I finally produced some brochures from monasteries, a menu from Lisboa, some ticket stubs from the Alhambra, and other travel mementos to describe our journey, and they let us go on to the boarding gate.

That's the most scrutiny I've ever gone through, yet my elaborate lunch made it through with no raised eyebrows.

As they served the in-flight meal, I opened this very pungent sandwich and my wife was mortified.

I'm sure had I not waited until other food was being served, there would have been some complaints.
But as everyone else was eating dry chicken breast, our flight attendant seemed quite impressed with my picnic spread.

aleezapink ,

i havent had any issues with food in OEM packages. Usually Ag inspectors dont like unprocessed foods. Keeps invasive species out of other places.

Also, since this is a global economy and world now, I'm sure your seat mates and others would appreciate it if you didnt bring any fish or Durian fruit on board.

One comment. On one of my flights there was someone onboard that was really really really really allergic to peanuts. Even the smell was not good and they announced over the PA to not eat any peanuts or anything with peanuts.

usually the USA and Hawaii is worried about fruit, but it depends on which way you are gong. I have brought bananas onto planes going out of the USA, havent tried to bring any in.

happy trails.

This may be obvious, but once you've passed thru airport security, any food or liquids that you then pick up at the airport can be carried onboard. Refill your water bottle with free water, or pay airport prices for snack items.

I agree with Cyn.

At Heathrow Terminal 5, I always pick up a pack of the M&S Simply Foods chocollini muffins and put them in my carry-on for the trip home. Never have to give those up. (And they are yummy!) And I have bought a sandwiches and chips too before security and never game those up either.

At Heathrow a couple of years ago, the security guy said I couldn't take my Krispy Kreme donuts through....unless I gave him one. He was, of course, only joking and I carried them on through.

But don't try to bring the yogurt cup from breakfast -- I had to scarf it down at the boarding gate at AMS or toss it.

Hi Deborah, this is a "it just depends" kind of situation, depending on what airport you're traveling through. In 2012 I was flying from Vienna, with a stop over in Amsterdam, before flying back to the states. In Amsterdam after I passed through Security I purchased a bag of chips and a coke (in a paper cup). At the boarding gate there was another Security check and then we passed to a holding area where we sat for another hour before actually boarding. I wasn't allowed to take the coke into the holding area. I'd never had that problem with a drink before and haven't experienced it since but it did happen in Amsterdam.

Just buy it on the other side of security...most big airports offer a wide variety of drinks, fresh food, processed foods, sandwiches, etc. in the shops and none of it will be confiscated. I never bother to bring food from home because there is so much available at airports now.

Do not even think of bringing fresh produce back into Orlando, even if you bought it after security. That's how a giant medfly invasion that devastated the Florida citrus industry happened- was traced to one orange that someone brought back from somewhere in Iberia.

I take food and drink (with a note from doc) for my highly allergic child. No one in the US, Zurich, Amsterdam or Paris ever questioned me. I'm talking liquids...milk alternative, soy yogurt and puréed food.

Other than the liquid restrictions, you can bring almost any food you want on the plane back from Europe... but you may not be able to take through US customs when you land. Any kind of meat that's not canned, dairy products or fresh produce you will generally have to surrender to customs. But it's not a problem if you eat it all on the flight.

My wife packs a bag full of good stuff to bring for a long flight; she also got some hot pink Play-Doh on board for entertainment.