Can you bring yogurt on an airplane? Are the rules different for domestic and international flights? And just how long will yogurt remain safe to eat when packed in your luggage? Read on for the answers.
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Bringing Yogurt On A Plane |
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Can You Bring Yogurt on Domestic Flights Within the U.S.A.? |
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Carry-On Baggage: |
Yes – but limit of 3.4 ounces (100 ml) allowed through airport security |
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Checked Luggage: |
Yes |
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Can You Bring Yogurt on International Flights Originating in the U.S.A? |
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Carry-On Baggage: |
Yes – but limit of 3.4 ounces (100 ml) allowed through airport security* |
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Checked Luggage: |
Yes* |
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*You can bring yogurt on board and consume it during the flight. But you might not be able to bring yogurt into your foreign destination (see details below). |
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Can You Bring Yogurt Into The U.S.A. on an International Flight? |
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Carry-On or Checked Luggage: |
Yes in most cases |
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How Long Will Yogurt Last In Your Luggage? |
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Yogurt – unopened or opened package |
2 hours at room temperature |
Sources: Transportation Security Administration, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, StillTasty.com
BRINGING YOGURT ON A PLANE: FLIGHTS ORIGINATING IN THE U.S.A.
Can you bring yogurt through airport security in your carry-on baggage?
Yes, but only in quantities of 3.4 ounces or less. Yogurt falls under the Transportation Security Administration’s “3-1-1 liquids rule”, which requires that all liquids and gels in your carry-on luggage be stored in 3.4-ounce (100 ml) or smaller containers — all of which must fit into one quart-sized plastic bag.
Read more: Here are the foods you can bring through airport security
Can you buy yogurt in the airport after you have passed through airport security and bring it onto the plane?
Yes, once you have passed through the TSA checkpoint and are in the secure area of the airport, you can purchase yogurt — any size is allowable at this point — and bring it on board with you in your hand luggage.
Can you bring yogurt on an airplane in your checked baggage?
Yes, you can bring yogurt in your checked baggage when boarding a flight within the United States. And unlike the case with carry-on baggage, you can bring as much yogurt as you’d like in your allowable checked luggage. To avoid spillage, place the yogurt in a tightly sealed container and then overwrap with heavy-duty aluminum foil or plastic wrap, or place the sealed container inside a heavy-duty freezer bag. Since yogurt 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 yogurt on an international flight leaving the U.S.A.?
Yes, you can bring yogurt on an international flight departing from the U.S. — but depending on where you’re going, you may not be able to bring the yogurt off the plane once you arrive at your destination.
If your intention is to bring the yogurt 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 yogurt through security at U.S. airports, whether you are flying domestically or internationally. And as noted above, you can also buy yogurt once you have passed through airport security and bring it on the plane with you.
But taking the yogurt off the plane and bringing it into a foreign country is a different matter. The rules around bringing in dairy products can be strict in many countries. The United Kingdom, for instance, typically does not allow international travelers from outside the European Union to bring in yogurt. Be sure to check your foreign destination’s rules before leaving.
BRINGING YOGURT INTO THE UNITED STATES
Can you bring yogurt on an international flight back into the U.S.A.?
Yes, the United States generally allows travelers to bring cultured milk products like yogurt into the U.S. when arriving on a flight from a foreign country.
Note that even if the yogurt is allowed, you must declare all foods 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 YOGURT LAST IN YOUR LUGGAGE?
Yogurt, whether in an unopened or opened package, will usually remain safe to eat for about 2 hours when stored at room temperature. You can bring ice or a frozen gel pack to keep yogurt 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.
