TSA has updated some procedures

That food idea is just terrible! I’ve seen the stuff that goes in those bins. Then you’ll need to touch that baggie to unwrap your food and use these hands to eat-how many layers of plastic and serial use of hand sanitizer before you’d bite into that sandwich? What is TSA trying to accomplish here? Thwart the terrorists who have figured out how to weaponize PB&J?

I don’t understand the food rule either. Why do we need to do it now when I’ve never had to separate my granola bars, nuts and chocolate bars before? The bins are disgusting. I don’t see the purpose of separating my food from my bag.

I always have my boarding pass on my phone so I always scan it.

I also NEVER remove my food from my suitcase and the "eagle eyes" have never noticed. LOL!

I now have pre-check so rarely have to deal with the 'Removal' nonsense, but even when I do it's interesting to see what they don' t see. I know they can "see" liquids. Thats' why ever since 911 I have had hand lotion in my purse or briefcase. The tubes have ranged from 1 to 4 oz. And as soon as a TSA agent sees it I plan to write a letter to his bosses commending him/her. Yeah, that's apparently not happening. Same thing with food, I just go with the "don't ask, don't tell" system. Of course I generally just have a few snacks. I guess if I was bringing a picnic they MIGHT catch it.

I also NEVER remove my food from my suitcase and the "eagle eyes" have never noticed. LOL!

Food items have not been required to be removed before (unless they were liquids), so there was nothing for TSA to notice. And I just read the linked article, and I also don't understand the purpose of the new food requirement.

I have been to at least three* and possibly more airports in the last two years where the TSA has definitely required me to remove food from my carry-on to go through the scanner, and others have experienced it too — it’s been discussed in a few threads the past couple of years especially due to the maddening inconsistency of being asked to do it or not.

*The ones I remember for sure are JFK and TUL, and the other one is probably ORD or LAX but I am not for sure. Then there was the TSA agent at DCA who mocked me for asking the question — I was trying to anticipate after having had to separate my food maybe four days earlier at JFK . . .

Its always been a bit amusing that the TSA regulations seem to vary from airport to airport, or even from one week to the next.

Whether its the whim of who is on duty, or a deliberate effort to keep the bad guys off guard......... hmmm

The clear plastic bag for food items.... how about using the bags you put fruits and veggies in at the grocery store.... once through security just toss them?

The "remove food and place in a bin" has been an off and on requirement for a couple years. It seems to have depended on the airport you are going through. My thoughts on it becoming the standard is often times when I have had various food items in my bag, the X-ray person has had to rescan my bag and then remove the offending food item and rescan again, so by having everyone preemptively remove the food it will reduce the amount of handling of your bag and contents. Of course this is mainly to protect the TSA people from possibly catching some disease you might have and does nothing to protect you.

I do like the idea of using the grocery store produce bags to place your food items in, in addition to whatever more sturdy wrapping you might chose, and then disposing of the produce bag after security. The bag should be enough to prevent any dirt or disease from getting onto your food.

Since I no longer have Pre Check and have absolutely idea when I might be able to go through the process to get it again, I am not looking forward to the security check for any of my upcoming flights.

I have been to at least three* and possibly more airports in the last two years where the TSA has definitely required me to remove food from my carry-on to go through the scanner,

Yes, I too have had that happened in the last couple of years in France. I think it was always because of goat cheese. One time one French agent told another who was going through our stuff: "Oh, that's just chevre." I guess goat cheese looks like something nefarious on an x-ray.

I have had the same issue with Parmigiano-Reggiano in my carry on. I bought about 2 kilos and placed it in my carry on. While going through security, the X-ray person got very excited about it. When I looked over at the screen, I could see the cheese had gotten wrapped up in the power cable from my phone charger, a package of AA batteries, and my wind up alarm clock. I didn't have to guess twice what it looked like to them.

I'm not excited about this aspect. I respect that the goal is having to open fewer bags. I get that part, but I'm not sure that this will help the traveler. I'd be carrying empty plastic bags with me to dump the food items into after I'd cleared TSA and then trash the plastic bag that touched the bin.

Also not thrilled in this current era about having to put my phone up on the device that everyone else's phone, boarding pass, fingers have touched. I'd definitely be going with a paper boarding pass as my phone does touch the side of my face.

I still have PreCheck, but that doesn't mean that bags don't get stopped there as well and pulled aside for random checks.

Maybe one zipper bag in your carry on devoted to things that have touched security surfaces? Whatever the plan, this will take a heck of a lot of hand sanitizer.

The instances I experienced were all in the U.S., which is why I referred to the actions of the TSA agents.

Kim-Paris... that is weird in Tulsa, I have not had any issues except by pincushion that was filled width crushed walnut shells and about size 8x 5.

BTW - hope all is better(illness) with your family.

Take care!

Kim

I have had the same issue with Parmigiano-Reggiano in my carry on. I bought about 2 kilos and placed it in my carry on. While going through security, the X-ray person got very excited about it.

He/she probably got excited because of how good that cheese is.