If you’re thinking about bringing a jar of peanut butter on your next trip, you may want to pack cautiously. The TSA reminded travelers that peanut butter does count as a liquid and has the receipts to explain why.
The agency brought up the subject again in a Sept. 2 Facebook post, writing, “Peanut butter is a liquid… we said what we said.” They then shared a photo explaining the rules.
Travelers can still bring peanut butter through security in containers no larger than 3.4 ounces, or 100 milliliters. Larger jars are still allowed in checked luggage.
Thankfully, the rules are different for a peanut butter sandwich. Once the spread is part of a sandwich, TSA treats it as solid food, and it is okay to bring onboard.
A Nearly Empty Jar is still Too Big
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TSA’s peanut butter page lists what is allowed in each type of bag. The important part is the container size, not how much peanut butter is left inside.
So, if you think you can bring a regular jar with just a little bit of peanut butter left inside, you’re wrong. You would need to transfer it into a smaller container or put the jar in checked luggage.
The small container has to fit inside the same clear, quart-sized bag used for other liquids, gels, creams and pastes. TSA allows one of these bags per passenger.
TSA Has Also Explained the Science
In an earlier explanation, TSA described peanut butter scientifically as a Bingham plastic, a type of non-Newtonian fluid. It is classified as a liquid under ASTM D4359-90, which is a test used to distinguish liquids from solids.
TSA officers may ask travelers to remove food from a carry-on so they can see it more clearly during the security screening. It helps to put food in a clear plastic bag so officers can see it easily.