You can bring food through TSA, but there are rules—especially for anything even slightly “liquid‑y.”

Can You Bring Food Through TSA? (2026 Guide)

You can bring most food through TSA, but how it’s packed and whether it’s a “liquid or gel” makes all the difference.

Quick Scoop

  • Yes, you can bring food through TSA in both carry‑on and checked bags.
  • Solid foods (sandwiches, chips, fruit, cookies, etc.) usually sail through.
  • Liquids, gels, and “spreadable” foods in carry‑on must follow the 3‑1‑1 liquids rule (3.4 oz / 100 ml max containers, all fitting in one quart‑size bag).
  • 2026 security tech (like better scanners) means stricter enforcement on “liquid‑like” foods such as yogurt, peanut butter, sauces, and soups.

Think of it this way: if you can pour, smear, or slosh it, TSA treats it like a liquid.

What You Can Bring (Carry‑On)

Solid foods are your best friend. These are generally allowed through security:

  • Sandwiches (even with mayo or condiments, as long as they’re not swimming in sauce).
  • Bread, rolls, pastries, muffins, donuts.
  • Cookies, crackers, chips, pretzels, granola bars, candy.
  • Whole or sliced fruits and veggies (apples, bananas, carrots, etc., but watch agricultural rules when arriving in places like Hawaii, California, or Florida).
  • Hard cheeses (cheddar, parmesan blocks, slices).
  • Cooked meats that are not in a lot of liquid or gravy.
  • Solid chocolate, nuts, trail mix.

These are usually fine in checked bags too , but checked baggage has far fewer restrictions on liquids, so big jars and cans are safer there.

What Gets Flagged or Confiscated

Here’s where people get surprised. In 2026, TSA is cracking down more heavily on “liquid‑like” foods in carry‑on bags.

Foods that often get pulled if they’re over 3.4 oz in carry‑on:

  • Soups, stews, broths, and chili.
  • Sauces, gravies, curries, salad dressings.
  • Peanut butter and other nut butters (almond, hazelnut, etc.).
  • Yogurt, pudding, Jell‑O, custards, and similar gels.
  • Jams, jellies, honey, syrups.
  • Soft cheeses and cheese spreads (cream cheese, brie, cheese dips).
  • Canned goods where there’s a lot of liquid inside (fruit in syrup, soups, saucy meals).
  • Saucy or very wet leftovers (think pasta drowning in sauce, saucy stir‑fry).

Key rule: if any of these are larger than 3.4 oz (100 ml) in your carry‑on, they can be confiscated. Putting them in checked luggage is usually safer.

The 3‑1‑1 Rule for Food (Carry‑On)

TSA still uses the classic 3‑1‑1 liquids rule , and in 2026 they’re enforcing it more strictly, especially with improved CT scanners that “see” liquid content clearly.

  • 3 : Containers must be 3.4 ounces (100 ml) or less.
  • 1 : All containers must fit in 1 clear, quart‑size, resealable bag.
  • 1 : Each traveler gets 1 such bag.

This applies to:

  • Peanut butter and spreads.
  • Yogurt, pudding, and similar.
  • Sauces, dressings, gravy.
  • Jams, jellies, honey.
  • Hummus and dips.

If your container is bigger than 3.4 oz, it usually doesn’t matter if it’s half full—TSA generally goes by the labeled container size.

Medical, Baby, and Special Exceptions

There are important exceptions for certain food‑type items:

  • Baby formula, breast milk, and baby food pouches.
  • Medically necessary liquids and nutrition shakes.

These can exceed 3.4 oz but must be declared to the officer and may be screened separately. It’s smart to:

  • Keep them in an easy‑to‑reach part of your bag.
  • Tell the officer upfront, “I have formula/medical liquid in my bag.”

Quick “Can I Bring This?” Table

Here’s a compact view for common items in carry‑on :

[5] [5][7] [3][5] [5][7] [1][7] [9][7][3] [1][7] [1][3] [7][3][1] [3] [7]
Food Item Carry‑On Allowed? Condition
Sandwich (PB&J, turkey, etc.) Yes Solid; minimal loose sauce.
Chips, crackers, cookies Yes No special limit; pack freely.
Whole fruit (apple, banana) Yes (usually) Check agricultural rules at destination.
Hard cheese block Yes Treated as solid food.
Soft cheese / cream cheese Yes, but limited Must follow 3‑1‑1 rule if spreadable.
Peanut butter / nut butters Yes, but limited Under 3.4 oz and in liquids bag.
Yogurt, pudding, Jell‑O Yes, but limited Under 3.4 oz; counts as gel.
Soup or stew Yes, but limited Under 3.4 oz; larger likely confiscated.
Canned soup or saucy meals Mostly no (carry‑on) Often pulled due to liquid content; better in checked bag.
Jams, jellies, honey Yes, but limited 3.4 oz max in liquids bag.
Baby food / breast milk Yes Over 3.4 oz allowed; must declare.

Forum & “Trending” Angle

This topic keeps popping up in travel forums because:

  • Newer scanners in 2026 mean more people see foods being pulled that “never were a problem before.”
  • Peanut butter, yogurt, and sauces surprise travelers the most—they look like everyday snacks, but TSA treats them like liquids.
  • Many travelers swap tips like:
    • “Make the sandwich, but don’t bring the big peanut butter jar.”
    • “Put anything liquidy in checked luggage or buy it after security.”
    • “Use solid snacks and skip the dips.”

You’ll also see frustration posts from people who had canned goods, big sauce jars, or holiday food gifts confiscated because they didn’t realize they count as liquids or gels.

Smart Packing Tips for Food

To keep your snacks and sanity intact:

  1. Prioritize solids. Bring granola bars, nuts, chips, sandwiches, hard cheese, and solid fruit instead of yogurts, dips, or big sauce containers.
  1. Use travel-size containers. If you must bring spreads or sauces, transfer them into containers 3.4 oz or smaller and place them in your liquids bag.
  1. Put large food jars/cans in checked bags. Soups, big peanut butter jars, jams, and canned meals are safer there.
  1. Declare baby and medical items. Have them ready for separate screening.
  1. Check destination rules. Some states and countries restrict fresh produce and meats when you arrive.

TL;DR

Yes, you can bring food through TSA. Solid snacks and normal “lunchbox” items are usually fine, but anything pourable, spreadable, or sloshy in your carry‑on must obey the 3‑1‑1 liquids rule—or it risks getting tossed.