Can you bring green salad on an airplane? Are the rules different for domestic and international flights? And just how long will green salad remain safe to eat when packed in your luggage? Read on for the answers.
|
Bringing Green Salad On A Plane |
|
|
Can You Bring Green Salad on Domestic Flights Within the U.S.A.? |
|
|
Carry-On Baggage: |
Yes, if boarding in the continental U.S.* |
|
Checked Luggage: |
Yes, if boarding in the continental U.S.* |
|
|
|
|
*If you are flying from Hawaii, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands, you cannot bring most fresh fruits and vegetables on board. If you are flying to Hawaii, you must declare all fresh produce upon arrival; it may be prohibited depending on type and origin. |
|
|
|
|
|
Can You Bring Green Salad on International Flights Originating in the U.S.A? |
|
|
Carry-On Baggage: |
Yes, if boarding in the continental U.S.** |
|
Checked Luggage: |
Yes, if boarding in the continental U.S.** |
|
|
|
|
**You can bring green salad on board and consume it during the flight. But you might not be able to bring the salad into your foreign destination (see details below). |
|
|
|
|
|
Can You Bring Green Salad Into The U.S.A. on an International Flight? |
|
|
Carry-On or Checked Luggage: |
No in most cases (see details below) |
|
|
|
|
How Long Will Green Salad Last In Your Luggage? |
|
|
Green salad, made with lettuce, spinach, kale or other leafy greens: |
2 hours at room temperature |
Sources: Transportation Security Administration, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, StillTasty.com
BRINGING GREEN SALAD ON A PLANE: FLIGHTS ORIGINATING IN THE U.S.A.
Can you bring green salad through airport security in your carry-on baggage?
Yes, if you are boarding a flight in the continental United States*, you can bring green salad through airport security — but you’ll need to be careful about the amount of any salad dressing you add to it. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will allow you to bring green salad made with lettuce, spinach, kale or any other solid foods through airport security. You will need to put the salad in a resealable bag or container with a secure-fitting lid.
Salad dressing falls under the TSA’s “3-1-1 liquids rule”, which requires that all liquids and gels in your carry-on luggage be stored in 3.4-ounce or smaller containers — all of which must fit into one quart-sized plastic bag.
So if you want to toss your salad with dressing before you head through security, go easy on the dressing — if there is too much liquid collecting in the bottom of the salad container, the TSA agent on duty may not allow it through. Another alternative is to put the salad dressing into a separate container that holds no more than 3.4 ounces, and include that in your liquids bag.
*If you are flying from Hawaii, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands to the U.S. mainland, you cannot bring most fresh fruits and vegetables on board. If you are flying to Hawaii, you must declare all fresh fruits and vegetables you bring upon arrival; these may be inspected and prohibited depending on type and origin.
Read more: Here are the foods you can bring through airport security
Can you bring green salad on an airplane in your checked baggage?
Yes, you can bring green salad in your checked baggage when boarding a flight within the United States, with the exceptions for Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands noted above. Since green salad is perishable, you should pack it along with some ice or a frozen gel pack to keep it cold throughout the trip.
Can you bring green salad on an international flight leaving the U.S.A.?
Yes, you can bring green salad on an international flight departing from the U.S. — but depending on where you’re going, you may not be able to bring the salad off the plane once you arrive at your destination.
If your intention is to bring the salad onto the plane in your carry-on baggage and eat it during the flight, you’ll have no issues. The TSA applies the same rules for allowing salad through security at U.S. airports, whether you are flying domestically or internationally.
But taking the green salad off the plane and bringing it into a foreign country is a different matter. The rules around fresh produce can be strict: Some countries, such as Australia, prohibit international travelers from bringing in any fresh fruits and vegetables whatsoever. Be sure to check your foreign destination’s rules before leaving.
BRINGING GREEN SALAD INTO THE UNITED STATES
Can you bring green salad on an international flight back into the U.S.A.?
In the vast majority of cases, the answer is no. The United States has strict rules about allowing travelers to bring fresh fruit and vegetables into the country, due to the risk of spreading pests and diseases to U.S. crops.
Whether you can bring green salad back into the U.S. will depend on the country from which you are arriving. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has a tool for checking the restrictions on specific fruits and vegetables from foreign countries.
Note also that you must declare all fruits and vegetables that you bring into the United States — whether they are allowable or not — to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and permit them to be inspected by a CBP agent. This can be a time-consuming process. The penalties for failing to declare your food items can be steep; bear in mind also that the CBP routinely conducts random screenings for arriving passengers.
FOOD SAFETY: HOW LONG WILL GREEN SALAD LAST IN YOUR LUGGAGE?
Green salad will usually remain safe to eat for about 2 hours when stored at room temperature; discard any leftovers. You can bring ice or a frozen gel pack to keep them cooler longer. But ice or gel packs in your carry-on luggage must be completely frozen when passing through airport security — if they are even partially thawed, the TSA screeners will likely bring them from you.
Note: While the above information is based on applicable Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) guidelines at the time of publication, the final decision for whether to allow a food item through airport security or into the United States rests with the TSA and CBP officers on duty at the airport. Regulations also change frequently: For the latest information, check the US Customs and Border Protection and Transportation Security Administration websites.
See Also:
How Long Can Salad Sit Out Before It Becomes Unsafe To Eat?
Can You Bring Food Through Airport Security?
