Overview
- TSA lists carry-on friendly Thanksgiving foods, including baked goods, solid meats such as a frozen turkey, cooked mac and cheese, fresh produce, candy, and spices.
- Items with pourable or gel-like consistency must go in checked bags to avoid confiscation, such as cranberry sauce, gravy, jams and preserves, maple syrup, and alcoholic beverages.
- Ice packs may accompany perishables only if they are frozen solid when presented at the checkpoint.
- Food should be packed in an easily accessible spot and removed for separate X-ray screening to reduce delays.
- The agency projects more than 17.8 million screenings from Nov. 25 to Dec. 2, and directs item-specific questions to the MyTSA What Can I Bring tool, AskTSA text line (275872), or @AskTSA on X or Facebook Messenger.