Mother and father touring with breast milk are allowed by means of airport safety. Right here's what to do about TSA screening points.

• TSA’s web site says breastmilk, method, and different child and toddler meals will be taken by means of safety.
• Mother and father ought to let TSA brokers know they’re touring with this stuff
• Actress Keke Palmer stated she not too long ago skilled “breast milk discrimination.”

Actress Keke Palmer, who starred within the 2022 movie “Nope,” stated that safety brokers threatened to throw away 16 ounces of breast milk that she was attempting to carry by means of airport safety. 

“Breast milk discrimination on the Houston airport ruined my temper,” she Tweeted. “I ought to’ve popped my tit out proper then as a result of the discretion and luxury of pumping is thwarted with threats to throw out over 16oz my infants meals?!?!!! Why is that not against the law?? I’M A MOTHER for crying out loud.”

TSA insurance policies permit breastmilk and different child meals to undergo safety. This is what you may pack in your carry-on bag while you’re touring with children and what to do if — like Palmer — you’ve gotten a irritating expertise at safety. 

Breastmilk, method, and even snack pouches can undergo safety

Vacationers have the suitable to carry milk, method, and meals for his or her infants or toddlers by means of safety, in response to the TSA. You possibly can carry any quantity, and you’ll pack it in your carry-on even when your child will not be with you. 

The laws additionally say that you may carry no matter you might want to maintain your milk cool, together with ice packs, freezer packs, frozen gel packs, and even teethers on your child. You possibly can journey with these even should you’re not additionally carrying breast milk.

Regardless of that, many mother and father, like Palmer, have skilled pushback from the TSA once they journey with child meals or provides.

“Typically, TSA brokers do not perceive this,” Lisa Myers, a mother of two and frequent flier, advised Insider. 

“After I’d arrive on the airport, I’d scout the TSA brokers, attempting to decide on the road for a employee who seemed educated, or a minimum of sympathetic,” she stated. “That is an inconsistent system that usually left me annoyed.”

make the safety course of simpler

To keep away from issues at safety, the TSA recommends telling the agent that you just’re touring with child meals earlier than they start scanning your luggage. Then, comply with the following pointers:

• Take away all child milk, meals, and cooling equipment out of your bag
• Transport milk in clear bottles relatively than plastic luggage since these are simpler to display
• Be ready to open luggage or pouches for added screening (don’t be concerned — the contents should never be touched)
• Anticipate some extra screening. You and different adults that you just’re touring with may get extra screening, like having your fingers swabbed for traces of explosives. 
• Maintain ice packs frozen stable. This is not required, however it implies that they’re going to want much less screening. Nonetheless, you’re allowed to carry partially frozen or slushy cooling packs by means of safety. 

What to do if in case you have issues with safety

Whereas it is good to know TSA insurance policies earlier than you journey, it is clear that generally the expertise on the safety checkpoint would not comply with protocol. The TSA has needed to apologize to folks many occasions, together with final 12 months when brokers in Los Angeles refused to permit celeb scientist Emily Calandrelli to carry ice packs by means of safety as a result of they weren’t frozen stable. 

If an agent offers you a tough time, ask to talk to a supervisor. You can even request a passenger help specialist, a TSA agent who’s skilled to assist passengers who want journey lodging. You may even maintain a screenshot of the TSA coverage on breastmilk and child meals helpful. 

Myers stated it is also useful to attempt to keep calm, even when the dialogue turns into traumatic and emotional. 

“I am not towards the TSA; I do know they’re simply doing their finest to maintain us protected,” she stated. “No TSA agent wakes up within the morning hoping to make a mother cry. But that is the unintentional affect of inconsistent coaching.”