Best Canned Food Options for TSA Approved Carry-On Luggage

TSA Guidelines for Flying With Canned Food

If you’re planning a trip and want to pack some canned foods in your checked or carry-on bag, it’s important to understand the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) rules regarding food items. In this article, I’ll explain the TSA restrictions on canned goods and provide tips for packing canned soups, vegetables, fish, and other foods so they safely and legally make the trip with you.

TSA Rules for Canned Food

The TSA places limits on the amount of liquids, gels, and aerosols you can bring through security in carry-on bags. This includes canned or jarred foods like pasta sauce, soups, nut butters, and other spreadable items. However, solid canned foods like tuna, chicken, beans, vegetables and fruits are permitted in both checked and carry-on luggage.

The key things to remember about the TSA’s canned food policies are:

1. Liquids, gels and aerosols must be 3.4 ounces or 100ml or less and fit in a single quart-sized zip top bag. This includes opened jars of tomato sauce, nut butters, etc.
2. Unopened canned foods like tuna, beans, soups and stews are allowed in unlimited quantities in both carry-on and checked bags.
3. Opened canned or jarred foods must be emptied of most of their contents and packed with other solids like snacks or clothes to prevent leakage.

Packing Tips for Canned Foods

From my experience traveling with canned goods, following a few simple packing strategies can help ensure your food makes it through security screening without issues:

1. Wrap leaky cans. If a can looks like it might spill, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or bag before packing to contain any spills.
2. Use zip top bags. Opened canned foods or jars should be emptied partially and sealed in a zip top bag along with napkins or paper towels to absorb leaks.
3. Don’t overpack. Leave some space around canned items so they don’t shift during travel. The pressure change could cause sealed lids to pop off.
4. Carry-on only. I usually opt to take only what I can reasonably finish on my trip in my carry-on bag to avoid checked luggage complications.

As long as canned foods are packed securely following TSA guidelines, they should pose no issues. Just be prepared to remove them from bags for individual screening if selected for a random search. With a bit of planning, your cannedprotein, veggies and more can make the trip with ease.

Alternatives to Canned Foods

If you’re unsure about canned food rules or just want alternatives, here are some tasty non-liquid options to consider stuffing in your luggage:

• Dried fruits, nuts, seeds and veggies
• Energy bars, granola bars, breakfast bars
• Hard cheeses, string cheese, squeeze tubes of cheese
• Nut butters in small containers
• Dried soup, seasoning or broth mixes
• Crackers, pretzels, chips or other shelf-stable snacks
• Fresh fruit like apples, oranges that can last the trip
• Hard boiled eggs or individual serving nut packs

Basically anything semi-solid to solid will be fine. Just double check individual airline food policies if packing unusual perishable items.

Question: What about oversized cans?

A really good question! The TSA size limits apply to containers, so if an excessive jumbo-sized can couldn’t easily fit in a quart bag, it may raise flags. Large bulky cans also run the risk of leaking or exploding from pressure change. Your best bet is sticking to standard 12 oz or smaller cans to be safe. Some airlines also have limits on sharp/hazardous items, so a GIANT aluminum can edge might be cause for inspection. Overall, use common sense and discretion with unusually large containers.

Real-Life Canned Food Travel Experience

I remember one trip where I kind of sort of packed more canned goods than I realistically needed. My bag was basically turning into a 52-card soup can pick-up stack by the time I added all the backup Vienna sausages, tuna pouches and bean Medleys. While TSA didn’t hassle me, it sure made my bag way heavier than it needed to be! From that lesson, I try to only bring just enough canned rations for the duration now. No sense lugging excess weight and risking leaks if not absolutely necessary.

Another time, a can of chili rolled around loose in my luggage and busted open mid-flight. What a mess! It was like a crime scene in my bag. I had to chuck the whole thing due to permanent “seasoning”. The moral is always place cans upright and secure them tightly to prevent pressurized soupy disasters at 30,000 feet.

So in summary – canned foods can feasible travel buddies within reason. Just follow published guidelines, keep portions sensible and pack thoughtfully to avoid any unnecessary scrutiny or cleanups en route to your destination.

I hope these tips and insights help provide peace of mind for planning trips with canned provisions. Let me know if any other questions come up regarding TSA canned food rules. Stay safe and bon appetit!

Tips for Choosing Canned Food When Traveling with TSA

Food Type	TSA Limit	Best Choices
Canned fish/meats	12 oz or less per can	Tuna, chicken, chicken salad
Canned fruits/veggies	24 oz or less per container	Fruit cocktail, mandarin oranges, green beans
Soup	32 oz or less per container	Chunky soups without pasta or noodles
Peanut/nut butters	16 oz or less per container	Natural peanut butter, almond butter
Beans	32 oz or less per container	Baked beans, refried beans, black beans

FAQ

1. Is canned food from TSA okay to eat?

   Basically, most experts say TSA canned food is safe to consume if stored properly and not expired. While it may have endured some rough handling during security checks, as long as the can is not damaged or swollen, it poses little risk.

2. How long does canned food last unopened?

   Generally, canned foods will last a good long while if kept in a cool, dry place unopened. Most experts estimate anywhere from 12 months to 5 years for many canned goods before their quality starts declining. However, the best before dates stamped on cans are your best guide.

   

3. What happens if a can is swollen?

   On the other hand, a swollen can is troubling, as it appears the seal has broken or bacteria has entered, allowing gases to build up inside. In this case, it’s best to discard the contents right away rather than risk consuming possibly contaminated food.

4. Can you recheck a canned item after security?

   Surprisingly, TSA policy allows passengers to request a re-inspection of canned or liquid items after going through security screening. Just ask an officer to take another look inside your bag if concerned anything may have been damaged in transit. They’re usually happy to ease travelers’ minds.

5. Is expired canned food still edible?

   Experts disagree on consuming expired canned goods. While bacterial growth is unlikely if the can remains intact, nutrient content and texture may degrade. It seems the shorter past the date, the less risk. But is it worth getting sick over? Maybe only try a small amount first to check for off flavors or smells.

6. What if the seal is broken on a canned item?

   If a canned item’s seal appears compromised in any way, it’s best to just toss it rather than risk your health. Without the seal, bacteria could potentially have entered at some point. Don’t take chances eating food that has clearly been exposed to outside contamination. Your well-being is worth more than whatever price was paid for that can!

7. Shouldn’t there be extra screenings for canned goods?

   You raise a good point. One might assume extra screening precautions would be in order for canned and liquid items due to concerns over pressure buildup from altitude changes during air travel. But the TSA insists current checks appear to adequately ease potential risks. Unless more issues start arising, it seems their methods presently seem sufficient according to authorities. Let me know if you have any other questions!