Woman Embarrassed When TSA Checked Her Luggage And Found “An Abundance Of Pancake Mix,” Folks Share Similar Stories
Interview
Does any one of you remember the “You Ain’t Got No Pancake Mix Kid”? Boy, I just dated myself…
Well, that kid couldn’t say that to Chelsea, who had an abundance of pancake mix all stashed up in her luggage. How do we know? The Transportation Security Administration, or the TSA, made sure of that.
A picture documenting this interesting turn of events exists in tweet form and got quite a bit of attention from the internet.
Incidentally, if you want to learn more about that pancake mix meme, you’re welcome.
More Info: Twitter
The TSA finds loads of random things in people’s luggage, but that one time they found an abundance of pancake mix was what the internet really needed
Image credits: Chelsnii
So, a treasury analyst at 100 Thieves named Chelsea has been traveling lately. She was on her way to Vancouver to visit some friends. And, turns out, the lovely land of Canadia doesn’t have Trader Joe’s, which means no Ube Mochi pancake mix. So Chelsea figured that’d be the best American souvenir to bring!
“Plus, it’s delicious!” added Chelsea in an interview with Bored Panda.
As you might have guessed already, this isn’t your regular, run of the mill pancake mix. Nope. This is Trader Joe’s UBE MOCHI pancake and waffle mix, the chewy mochi pancake mix with purple yam that only requires some water, eggs and butter for ultimate gustatory pleasure.
So much, in fact, that Chelsea, the lovely lady who was taking said ube mochi pancake mix to her friends in Canada as a souvenir, became the “Pancake Mix Girl” overnight
Image credits: Chelsnii
In fact, it doesn’t really require eggs, as Chelsea explained, because of course we asked her for the recipe! “I recommend omitting the eggs from the recipe on the box! With the egg, it comes out to be the same consistency as a normal pancake, but without the egg, the intended ‘mochi’ texture really stands out.”
But I’m getting distracted.
Nearly 550K likes later, everyone was sharing their TSA stories of weird luggage contents
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Despite having done her research, Chelsea still felt a bit uneasy with all the pancake mix she was transporting
Unfortunately (or is it?) there ain’t nothing that gets past the TSA and they had to search Chelsea’s luggage. Upon opening it, Chelsea felt the need to apologize for the slightly bizarre combination and quantity of baggage contents.
“I looked it up before traveling and it said pancake mix was allowed, but apparently if you are bringing powders over a certain amount, you have to take it out of your luggage for them to inspect it,” elaborated Chelsea.
“I didn’t know about this at the time, and I had thought about asking the TSA agent if I would need to take it out of my luggage, but I didn’t know how to go about asking without exposing the fact that I was carrying a bunch of pancake mix in my suitcase, so I thought it would be embarrassing to ask. I guess they ended up finding out anyway!”
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Image credits: Martijn van Exel (not the actual photo)
While the TSA was a tad bit surprised to find it all, one of them came back with the most wholesome “never apologize for being who you are”
As soon as Chelsea saw her suitcase get pulled to the other side of the conveyor belt, she immediately knew it got flagged. A moment of mental preparation before her flour obsession was exposed. The TSA agent asks whose luggage it was. She raised her hand, followed by an “I’m so sorry for what you’re about to see.”
“Is there anything sharp in here I should know about?” the TSA agent asked. Chelsea came back with a “No ma’am.” The TSA agent popped up the suitcase and lo and behold, they were blinded by the bright purple shine of the pancake mix boxes.
One of the other TSA agents said “Woah, is that pancake mix?” to which she replied “I am so sorry, this is so embarrassing.” The TSA agent , contrary to popular belief, seemed very cool about it and responded in a very wholesome manner with “never apologize for being who you are.” You can’t help but love the guy for his chill wisdom, making things right in the world one piece of luggage at a time.
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“They swiped every box of pancake mix with some sort of explosive-detecting paper and scanned it through the machine. After the all-clear, the TSA agent zipped up my bag and handed it back to me, ‘Must be good pancake mix if you’re traveling with so much of it.’” And she was on her way.
Well, it wasn’t long until a picture of the shake-down found its way onto Twitter and drew quite a crowd. In several days, the tweet has managed to get nearly 550,000 likes with 38,400 retweets.
For the most part, it prompted a lot of stories of folks experiencing similar (or not so similar) TSA stories about the stuff they had the pleasure to find in their luggage. You think whole kilograms of pancake mix is a tad bit weird, try cooked chickens and twelve million kinds of smelly cheese.
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Now all we need is some syrup and we’re set… wait, we’re good, there’s this guy who brings maple syrup in his carry-on. Problem solved!
For the record, the TSA has officially declared that pancake mix is allowed in both the carry-on and the checked luggage, but it’s recommended to stash it away as it’s more than 12 oz. Or let it be radiated in the x-ray machine along with all your electronics, which may or may not add some extra bit of spice to it.
In any case, you can check out the post here. But before you go-go, we would love to hear your thoughts and opinions about excessive quantities of pancake mix in luggage and TSA stories, or shoot us your best pancake recipes in the comments below!
I remember my bag being pulled because I packed a railroad spike on a trip so my stuffed animals could “protect themselves from bad guys” edit: I was 6 yrs old
I'm going to sound dumb, but what does an ube mochi pancake taste like?? We don't have fun pancake flavors like this but it looks so lovely!
Had a similar experience after arriving in Melbourne AUS. You're not allowed to take any food into the country because of possible contamination. So arriving in Melbourne, my friend went to use the bathroo and as I waited, a dog sat himself next to my backpack. I wasn't thinking anything about it until I am greeted by teo officers asking if said backpack is mine, which I agree. Then they asked if I brought any food which I didn't. Upon further enquiry it turns out the dog still smelled the apple I took out my pack 12 hours before when I was still in Shanghai waiting for my 10 hours flight.
I had an overripe banana in my handbag two days before I came home which was still detectable by a dog.
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We got pulled to the side because our box of MTG cards. I got my husband this amazing carrying case, holds ten decks, play mats and dice. The girl opened it up, laughed and said she was jealous. That box has gotten many sighs of jealousy lol
I travel with my service dog. I always take 3 days of kibble in a zip lock in my carryon just in case our luggage gets delayed/ lost. Was set to fly to Ca. From Denver. TSA was pretty awesome and were really impressed by my girls manners/ training. However, apparently that much kibble looks like a *LOT* of pills in X-Ray lol. They had to open and confirm. They were really nice about it and I understood. Another time, flying from Oregon to Ca, TSA had some questions about my carry on. It was mostly full of packaged meat snacks from the Oberto factory my Step- mom worked at. They reallllllly wanted to confiscate it lol. again, they were very cool about it, just had a good laugh.
I once packed homemade fudge on the way to see family in another state. After they finally got up the nerve to check it and cleared me, I asked what the problem was. I was told it looked like c4. I told them I've only seen it on tv, sorry ill never fly with again. His partner, very snippy, asked why I didn't check it. I explained that everyme I check baked goods they were missing when I landed. She was shocked. I was too, the first time. It took my family and I 3 times to give up.
I've heard stories of things going missing from checked luggage, but to steal your food??? That's pretty low.
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My daughter went to Toyko in December of 2019. I asked her to buy Olympic souvenirs to give to my staff as part of a Christmas present. She found cute little key chains. I had her pick up about 15. Fifteen metal keychains look odd on the scanners, so she sheepishly ended up showing them the stash!
Pre-9/11 so this (literally) wouldn’t fly now, but I used to fly up to visit my dad at Christmas. We always brought back 2 loaves of Italian bread from a local bakery (3 if my sib and I were hungry so 2 would make it). One year my sib got a lava lap, so it went in my carry on between the bread to avoid breakage. The TSA person 1, couldn’t decide if they were weirded out by all the bread, and 2, apparently had never seen a lava lamp. They tried to open it, and I told them they’d owe us a new lamp. Another year the hubs and I brought back like 2 dozen specialty donuts. They almost got “confiscated”. Same trip, my carry on got run through the X-ray machine like 6 times, and then searched. Finally, they asked me to get the “pepper spray” out of my bag. It wasn’t a spray. They were earplugs in a metal canister.
If you're flying out of New Orleans, LA, USA and have a bunch of beads they are likely going to check your bag. I lived there for awhile and when I went to visit family I always got stopped because I was bringing mardi gras beads for them. The coffee tins too with the chicory will also get you stopped.
I was flying from Lake Charles, LA to visit my daughter in Missouri. I had checked two suitcases full Rabideaux's sausage, boudain, tasso and a couple of bags of cracklins' amongst other things. I had to have my bags checked also.
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I have just returned from Portugal visiting my parents. I have so many chorizos, gelatin, even bread and other stuff,because my kid loves everything from Portugal , but this timevi put it in the sending luggage as I'm tired to explain at the airport why I have so much food in the carry on...
If you are returning to USA, shush, because meat and some cheeses arent allowed.
Load More Replies... The following incidents happened to me before 9/11, so the security wasn't what it is today. The 1st one was taking a giant honey-baked ham, wrapped in foil, in it's own individual carry-on bag. I had to put it through xray and it suddenly occurred to me that it might look suspicious, so I just started yelling "It's okay! It's just a ham!". Surprisingly, they took my word for it and never opened it. Today, I'd likely be arrested and the airport evacuated. The 2nd happened when I was 13. Having a period was still relatively new to me and I was only wearing pads at the time. I was flying home and stuffed a large sock full of marbles in the bottom of my bag. There was no room for my full box of pads, so I took them out of the box and stuffed them in every nook of my bag. Of course this cute, young security guy checks my bag because he can't identify the marble sock on xray. Poor guy had to sift through all these pads to find the sock. One even fell on the floor! I was sooo mortified!
I forgot, also pre 9/11, I smuggled fireworks, a Swiss army knife, and a large wall barometer in my suitcase. And on another flight I brought a single golf club on board that my dad wanted me to have to practice my swing. Probably looked kind of weird to be walking around the airport with it. Never would any of this be possible today, which is why it's kind of amusing to think about.
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I had packed a whole box of Now and Laters in my carry on, cherry flavor, and o guess TSA thought they looked like C4. Which I can see how they would. Then on another trip I had brought my cross stitching with me to work on during the flight, I have done this many times, craft scissors are allowed on a flight if the scissor part is under 3 inches Leaving our airport wasn't an issue. However, TSA at the Orlando airport did, but not with the scissors. It was the needle holder, which I admit I have a lot of needles in because I tend to lose or snap a few needles on every project I work on. Problem is the needle holder was in the plastic container holding all the flosses. and I can see them trying to get it open and they can't figure out how. They won't ask me how, they just keep turning it over and trying to open it from the hinged side. They eventually just put it back in my bag and put it back through XRay without saying a single word to me.
Checked bag had frozen lamb leg ( long story ). When I opened bag, it had a " hey we are TSA and rifled through".
I've had my checked luggage searched too, but it's been several years since that's happened - I guess the TSA guys who do that are familiar with my bag now! But it's kind of jarring to open your suitcase & see that card, lol
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This is why my sister and I were too paranoid to bring more than 1 bottle of maple syrup home when we visited Canada- regretted it ever since, real maple syrup is so expensive here!
Flying from Amsterdam to London with three rounds of cheese in my backpack. Got stopped at airport in Amsterdam and London (final destination Liverpool). I did ask the girl in the shop if there would be any problem, no sir none at all. You know it's them 68 year old terrorist carrying them cheese bombs.
I was flying with a freshly baked loaf of bread my son made. Half joking-half serious I offered to share with them if they had some butter. They told me I was lucky to have such a considerate son and sent me on my way.
Had my carry on opened, on top was 2x big freezer bags full of origami I'd picked and dried. As the woman stared at me, I realized how bad it looked, but as I took the jacket off the top and showed her the entire bag was food stuff - as was my handbag, and my husband's carry on too. She laughed and asked why I hadn't put it in the hold bag but I'd filled that with honey, vinegar and other liquids. My husband didn't have a hold bag as such, he had a 20 kilo box of olive oil.
Is there another meaning of origami I am not familiar with?
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when I was 12, a TSA agent opened my violin case to check that it was, you know, a violin I guess… but then they asked me to play it?? like what are you trying to prove, I’m TWELVE and deeply uncomfortable. I’m pretty sure they laughed when I was too embarassed and shy to do it. ugh. makes me upset just thinking about it.
this would have been 22 years ago for the record, around y2k. pre-9/11.
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It would definitely be me too - I inherited the rockhound instinct from my mom! I actually have a few of the rocks she picked up on our family road trips when I was a child. Just NEVER pick up a piece of lava in Hawaii - it's very bad luck. You can buy some as a souvenir, but don't just grab a random bit off the ground - the goddess Pele will be angry with you!
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I once took 10 packs of frozen bacon with me from Denmark to England. English bacon sucks :D
My niece wanted me to do her wedding cake. I’m in Massachusetts she’s in St. Louis. Baked and froze the layers then packed. Overheard them saying “This lady really likes cake.” lmao 12D303F4-2...a-jpeg.jpg 
The first time I went to Venezuela to meet my (then gf, later wife)'s family I wanted to bring her father something special that he wouldn't be able to get there. So I chose apples and pears. They have both there, grown in the Andean foothills, but they're mealy and bland. I called the local consulate and asked if I could get permission to bring them and in. I was told that no, I couldn't but I should just put them in my carry-on bag and not say anything. And if I was challenged at customs there to just offer one to the inspector. It turns out they're not much worried about Americans smuggling things INTO South America and I was just waved through. But I love that fact that the advice from a government official was to A) smuggle and B) if caught, bribe the inspector. It was my first introduction to the laissez faire attitude towards crime and law in that part of the world.
I got stopped for having a giant Italian sausage in my carry on. I was visiting my brother in NY and I love sopressatta. There is an amazing Italian shop close to where he lives that makes it in house. Yuuummmmmm! Luckily they let me and my sausage board the plane and go home.
I'm in Kansas City & we used to have an amazing Italian grocer/deli that had soppressata - sooooo good! And their sausages were awesome too. I really miss that place!
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Same - my husband loves mochi, and I bet he would like the pancake mix!
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I think the best stories are about when TSA finds those lovely ADULT toys, especially when the toy is switched on by mistake. Hahaha... Talk about embarrassing! 😄
Back 80’s I worked as armed private security for Hughes Aviation, a private Charter facility on the west side of McCarren Airport (now Harry Reed International Airport in Las Vegas. The screeners working the machines would alert us when they saw something suspicious or an electronics device that required hands on check. I was called over to look at the screen and observed what was obviously a large vibrator in a ladies handbag. I could see she was about to pass out from embarrassment as I took the bag off the conveyer belt. I took the bag over to a platform away from everyone’s Sight, reached in and without removing the vibrator from the bag removed the batteries and inspected it to ensure there was nothing else in it and tested it to ensure the batteries were indeed batteries. I returned her purse thanking her for her patience with all the professionalism I would expect if my wife were in that situation. The look of gratitude on her face was priceless. Yes, I then washed my hands.
You, sir, are a gentleman! Thank you for your discretion, I'm sure the lady appreciated it very much!
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I was visiting my best friend while she was stationed in Africa and she asked me to bring her Cabot's cheddar specifically (she is originally from Vt) so I had 4 lbs of 1/2 lb factory sealed cheese in my carry on plus a box of Funfetti cake mix and a box of confectioner's sugar (I was going for her birthday and was going to bake her a cake). They had to check my bags because of the cheese and the TSA agent told me that it was ok, they really did have food in Africa regardless of what all the commercials wanted you to think. I explained why I had so much cheese and she laughed, but she seemed genuinely worried about me for a minute
My dad traveled a lot for work when I was younger, he used to get some odd looks when he would pull my stuffed doll out of his carry on and take a pic of it in the airport. I would always send my doll with him when he went somewhere, I have pics of it all over the world.
Fun post and all, but I need more information about the special japanese flavour kitkat. What was that? I want to try it! 😊
Could have been anything. They've got dozens of special flavors over there. I've tried some that a friend brought back from Japan and I'm amazed they're not sold everywhere.
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When I flew to my grandmother's funeral a few years ago in Indiana from Texas I stopped at White Castle before we hit the airport bought a crave case took it on the plane with me. I had half a case by the time I got back home. Apparently nobody on the plane had ever heard of White castles They smelled it and they were all asking for it including two for the pilots.
Me with nine dozen Montreal bagels and a full quarter-wheel of good imported Gouda, flying home to San Francisco. I apologize for nothing but ye gads the smell of the fresh (like, four hours old) bagels smacked the TSA guy in the face when he opened the suitcase...
My boyfriend got busted with a large quantity of spätzle flour in his suitcase when travelling from Germany.
My husband, when a twenty-something slob, got pulled out of the check-in line (pre-TSA) because he had 6 cheese blintzes, wrapped in aluminum foil by his grandmother. The security people asked him what they were, and he honestly answered cheese blintzes. They made him unwrap them to see that they were actually what he said. To think he would've hijacked a plane to Cuba with cheese blintzes is still hysterical.
I saw a group of guys being stopped at security. They were heading of for a weekend of fun, dressed in various costumes. 'Buza Lightyear' was stopped as he had a gun. The security guy said he could see it was a toy, but needed to call the Police for them to gives permission. The Police arrived in about two minutes, looked at Buzz, grinned and declared "Not a flying toy." They checked his gun and proclaimed it safe.
Before 9/11, my sister, on two different occasions, smuggled kittens inside her sweatshirt from Indiana and from New York to her home in California. I mean, they were strays and too cute to leave behind!
As a child, I got pulled for having a stuffed animal in my backpack. It had to be searched
The TJ’s Ube pancake mix is absolutely worth that hassle, in my opinion. 😋
We dug up an ancient mulberry tree that was about to be felled, pruned it aggressively and took it on the ferry to our new property on Kangaroo Island. A huge trailer, root ball and earth wrapped in sacking, about 8ft of trunk. Ferry staff said "we've got trees on Kangaroo Island, you know".
This list shows 204, but it might be an old list & there could be more: https://thisis-japan.com/kitkat-flavors/
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TSA in Dublin, a s**t ton of candy taken back to the states with my from England, also, the TSA guy was from....Staten Island ( I am from upstate NY)
I found a Dutch candy (Zwart Wit Powder) in a shop in Canada and put it in my partner's backpack. Unfortunately I forgot to tell him this and when he was checked he couldn't tell what it was (he really didn't know). With many apologies and explanations from me, he was then allowed to leave. He was mad at me for a long time, completely understandable. (previous comment deleted to insert picture) Zwart-Wit-...72a64d.jpg 
My sister once brought home a huge like child size box of sour patch kids and it got searched for bomb residue lol but I think everyone couldn't stop laughing because it was so comically big
Yeah everytime I go through TSA they ravage my things then act like they don't hear my comments while completely avoiding eye contact for the entire duration
I got pulled because I had 6 large containers of FLUFF (specific type of marshmallow spread. Especially good on PB&J)Anyway, the don't have it. In NC where we live and my kids LOVE it!! Mind you they are both grown. 😄😄 I also got pulled because I had a small metal canister of Starbucks instant coffee. When I visit NE, my family doesn't have a coffee pot.. lol. At least it's good. I think TSA enjoys hearing all the things people bring with them because they don't have it at home/away. We certainly love the things that remind us of home.
I got pulled aside last year because i had a large jar of frozen green chili. My friends mom passed and I was bringing her comfort food! 5 am the tsa guy pulls it out goes "uhhhh ooook then" puts it back and sends me on my way.
I can imagine what frozen green chili looks like, can't blame the TSA guy for that reaction, 😆
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TSA at Norflok Airport had to open my incredibly stuffed backpack to find the source of the 'unidentifiable mass.' It was a good-sized bag of tiny seashells.
I was asked by a TSA agent, very seriously I might add, if I had a jar of peanut butter in my bag (before scanning it). I didn't, but with that level of urgency, I asked if I was supposed to?
I also REALLY wanted to know the backstory to that very specific inquiry...
Load More Replies... I once was travelling from my old home in the UK, to a new home in Canada. Was travelling with a ceramic skull in my travel-on (because I didn't want it smashed in my checked luggage). However, I forgot it was there until I went through security and saw my bag come out of the x-ray, go back in, come out again, go back in again...I will never forget the look on the officers face as she strolled over to me. Thankfully she saw the funny side, afterwards.
We got busted for coco wheats coming back from Chicago to ft. Laud.in the early 2000's. It was in a checked bag , they announced at the gate and I had to explain icouldnt find it in local stores. I even opened one of the boxes and ate a bit. 9/11 made us all a bit crazy
Headed from Sacramento all the way to Cyprus on a military job. My crew already out there ask me to bring Crown Royal. I packed up 4 1.75 Lt bottles in my luggage. 20 mins before boarding TSA wanted to chat. They had already broken into my luggage and I had to explain I was giving it to military members who hadn't had a good drink for awhile. I got through with some laughs... Cyprus has alcohol the Crown Royal is triple the price
I brought bottles of liquid soap home from Spain because it isn’t found in the US. Brought a box of coconuts from Florida for souvenirs. Brought pastries from Thailand. So what did the tsa once search? My cat.
Makes me wonder why no one just ships stuff. That's what we do. We only fly with our carry on bags when we visit friends and family. We ship our clothes and stuff.
I've done that in the past, but with the shipping delays going on now & the increase in fees, I can't see spending that kind of money & possibly having my personal stuff wandering all over creation. Nope, I'll just pack according to TSA guidelines. And if I have anything questionable, I can text or email AskTSA - they are really good about responding within 24 hours or less!
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I'm surprised they didn't go through the boxes and open every one searching for drugs
TSA's primary function is for security. Yes, they can look for drugs too, but their focus is on weapons, explosives, etc.
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All I did was have a "hot crotch" in the Vegas airport and I got thoroughly felt up in public by a very dedicated TSA person. Tbf they offered me privacy and I declined lol And I'm very happy they are thorough!
I'd feel a little violated, but hey, some people love that kind of attention
Load More Replies... I remember my bag being pulled because I packed a railroad spike on a trip so my stuffed animals could “protect themselves from bad guys” edit: I was 6 yrs old
I'm going to sound dumb, but what does an ube mochi pancake taste like?? We don't have fun pancake flavors like this but it looks so lovely!
Had a similar experience after arriving in Melbourne AUS. You're not allowed to take any food into the country because of possible contamination. So arriving in Melbourne, my friend went to use the bathroo and as I waited, a dog sat himself next to my backpack. I wasn't thinking anything about it until I am greeted by teo officers asking if said backpack is mine, which I agree. Then they asked if I brought any food which I didn't. Upon further enquiry it turns out the dog still smelled the apple I took out my pack 12 hours before when I was still in Shanghai waiting for my 10 hours flight.
I had an overripe banana in my handbag two days before I came home which was still detectable by a dog.
Load More Replies... We got pulled to the side because our box of MTG cards. I got my husband this amazing carrying case, holds ten decks, play mats and dice. The girl opened it up, laughed and said she was jealous. That box has gotten many sighs of jealousy lol
I travel with my service dog. I always take 3 days of kibble in a zip lock in my carryon just in case our luggage gets delayed/ lost. Was set to fly to Ca. From Denver. TSA was pretty awesome and were really impressed by my girls manners/ training. However, apparently that much kibble looks like a *LOT* of pills in X-Ray lol. They had to open and confirm. They were really nice about it and I understood. Another time, flying from Oregon to Ca, TSA had some questions about my carry on. It was mostly full of packaged meat snacks from the Oberto factory my Step- mom worked at. They reallllllly wanted to confiscate it lol. again, they were very cool about it, just had a good laugh.
I once packed homemade fudge on the way to see family in another state. After they finally got up the nerve to check it and cleared me, I asked what the problem was. I was told it looked like c4. I told them I've only seen it on tv, sorry ill never fly with again. His partner, very snippy, asked why I didn't check it. I explained that everyme I check baked goods they were missing when I landed. She was shocked. I was too, the first time. It took my family and I 3 times to give up.
I've heard stories of things going missing from checked luggage, but to steal your food??? That's pretty low.
Load More Replies... My daughter went to Toyko in December of 2019. I asked her to buy Olympic souvenirs to give to my staff as part of a Christmas present. She found cute little key chains. I had her pick up about 15. Fifteen metal keychains look odd on the scanners, so she sheepishly ended up showing them the stash!
Pre-9/11 so this (literally) wouldn’t fly now, but I used to fly up to visit my dad at Christmas. We always brought back 2 loaves of Italian bread from a local bakery (3 if my sib and I were hungry so 2 would make it). One year my sib got a lava lap, so it went in my carry on between the bread to avoid breakage. The TSA person 1, couldn’t decide if they were weirded out by all the bread, and 2, apparently had never seen a lava lamp. They tried to open it, and I told them they’d owe us a new lamp. Another year the hubs and I brought back like 2 dozen specialty donuts. They almost got “confiscated”. Same trip, my carry on got run through the X-ray machine like 6 times, and then searched. Finally, they asked me to get the “pepper spray” out of my bag. It wasn’t a spray. They were earplugs in a metal canister.
If you're flying out of New Orleans, LA, USA and have a bunch of beads they are likely going to check your bag. I lived there for awhile and when I went to visit family I always got stopped because I was bringing mardi gras beads for them. The coffee tins too with the chicory will also get you stopped.
I was flying from Lake Charles, LA to visit my daughter in Missouri. I had checked two suitcases full Rabideaux's sausage, boudain, tasso and a couple of bags of cracklins' amongst other things. I had to have my bags checked also.
Load More Replies... I have just returned from Portugal visiting my parents. I have so many chorizos, gelatin, even bread and other stuff,because my kid loves everything from Portugal , but this timevi put it in the sending luggage as I'm tired to explain at the airport why I have so much food in the carry on...
If you are returning to USA, shush, because meat and some cheeses arent allowed.
Load More Replies... The following incidents happened to me before 9/11, so the security wasn't what it is today. The 1st one was taking a giant honey-baked ham, wrapped in foil, in it's own individual carry-on bag. I had to put it through xray and it suddenly occurred to me that it might look suspicious, so I just started yelling "It's okay! It's just a ham!". Surprisingly, they took my word for it and never opened it. Today, I'd likely be arrested and the airport evacuated. The 2nd happened when I was 13. Having a period was still relatively new to me and I was only wearing pads at the time. I was flying home and stuffed a large sock full of marbles in the bottom of my bag. There was no room for my full box of pads, so I took them out of the box and stuffed them in every nook of my bag. Of course this cute, young security guy checks my bag because he can't identify the marble sock on xray. Poor guy had to sift through all these pads to find the sock. One even fell on the floor! I was sooo mortified!
I forgot, also pre 9/11, I smuggled fireworks, a Swiss army knife, and a large wall barometer in my suitcase. And on another flight I brought a single golf club on board that my dad wanted me to have to practice my swing. Probably looked kind of weird to be walking around the airport with it. Never would any of this be possible today, which is why it's kind of amusing to think about.
Load More Replies... I had packed a whole box of Now and Laters in my carry on, cherry flavor, and o guess TSA thought they looked like C4. Which I can see how they would. Then on another trip I had brought my cross stitching with me to work on during the flight, I have done this many times, craft scissors are allowed on a flight if the scissor part is under 3 inches Leaving our airport wasn't an issue. However, TSA at the Orlando airport did, but not with the scissors. It was the needle holder, which I admit I have a lot of needles in because I tend to lose or snap a few needles on every project I work on. Problem is the needle holder was in the plastic container holding all the flosses. and I can see them trying to get it open and they can't figure out how. They won't ask me how, they just keep turning it over and trying to open it from the hinged side. They eventually just put it back in my bag and put it back through XRay without saying a single word to me.
Checked bag had frozen lamb leg ( long story ). When I opened bag, it had a " hey we are TSA and rifled through".
I've had my checked luggage searched too, but it's been several years since that's happened - I guess the TSA guys who do that are familiar with my bag now! But it's kind of jarring to open your suitcase & see that card, lol
Load More Replies... This is why my sister and I were too paranoid to bring more than 1 bottle of maple syrup home when we visited Canada- regretted it ever since, real maple syrup is so expensive here!
Flying from Amsterdam to London with three rounds of cheese in my backpack. Got stopped at airport in Amsterdam and London (final destination Liverpool). I did ask the girl in the shop if there would be any problem, no sir none at all. You know it's them 68 year old terrorist carrying them cheese bombs.
I was flying with a freshly baked loaf of bread my son made. Half joking-half serious I offered to share with them if they had some butter. They told me I was lucky to have such a considerate son and sent me on my way.
Had my carry on opened, on top was 2x big freezer bags full of origami I'd picked and dried. As the woman stared at me, I realized how bad it looked, but as I took the jacket off the top and showed her the entire bag was food stuff - as was my handbag, and my husband's carry on too. She laughed and asked why I hadn't put it in the hold bag but I'd filled that with honey, vinegar and other liquids. My husband didn't have a hold bag as such, he had a 20 kilo box of olive oil.
Is there another meaning of origami I am not familiar with?
Load More Replies... when I was 12, a TSA agent opened my violin case to check that it was, you know, a violin I guess… but then they asked me to play it?? like what are you trying to prove, I’m TWELVE and deeply uncomfortable. I’m pretty sure they laughed when I was too embarassed and shy to do it. ugh. makes me upset just thinking about it.
this would have been 22 years ago for the record, around y2k. pre-9/11.
Load More Replies... It would definitely be me too - I inherited the rockhound instinct from my mom! I actually have a few of the rocks she picked up on our family road trips when I was a child. Just NEVER pick up a piece of lava in Hawaii - it's very bad luck. You can buy some as a souvenir, but don't just grab a random bit off the ground - the goddess Pele will be angry with you!
Load More Replies... I once took 10 packs of frozen bacon with me from Denmark to England. English bacon sucks :D
My niece wanted me to do her wedding cake. I’m in Massachusetts she’s in St. Louis. Baked and froze the layers then packed. Overheard them saying “This lady really likes cake.” lmao 12D303F4-2...a-jpeg.jpg
The first time I went to Venezuela to meet my (then gf, later wife)'s family I wanted to bring her father something special that he wouldn't be able to get there. So I chose apples and pears. They have both there, grown in the Andean foothills, but they're mealy and bland. I called the local consulate and asked if I could get permission to bring them and in. I was told that no, I couldn't but I should just put them in my carry-on bag and not say anything. And if I was challenged at customs there to just offer one to the inspector. It turns out they're not much worried about Americans smuggling things INTO South America and I was just waved through. But I love that fact that the advice from a government official was to A) smuggle and B) if caught, bribe the inspector. It was my first introduction to the laissez faire attitude towards crime and law in that part of the world.
I got stopped for having a giant Italian sausage in my carry on. I was visiting my brother in NY and I love sopressatta. There is an amazing Italian shop close to where he lives that makes it in house. Yuuummmmmm! Luckily they let me and my sausage board the plane and go home.
I'm in Kansas City & we used to have an amazing Italian grocer/deli that had soppressata - sooooo good! And their sausages were awesome too. I really miss that place!
Load More Replies... Same - my husband loves mochi, and I bet he would like the pancake mix!
Load More Replies... I think the best stories are about when TSA finds those lovely ADULT toys, especially when the toy is switched on by mistake. Hahaha... Talk about embarrassing! 😄
Back 80’s I worked as armed private security for Hughes Aviation, a private Charter facility on the west side of McCarren Airport (now Harry Reed International Airport in Las Vegas. The screeners working the machines would alert us when they saw something suspicious or an electronics device that required hands on check. I was called over to look at the screen and observed what was obviously a large vibrator in a ladies handbag. I could see she was about to pass out from embarrassment as I took the bag off the conveyer belt. I took the bag over to a platform away from everyone’s Sight, reached in and without removing the vibrator from the bag removed the batteries and inspected it to ensure there was nothing else in it and tested it to ensure the batteries were indeed batteries. I returned her purse thanking her for her patience with all the professionalism I would expect if my wife were in that situation. The look of gratitude on her face was priceless. Yes, I then washed my hands.
You, sir, are a gentleman! Thank you for your discretion, I'm sure the lady appreciated it very much!
Load More Replies... I was visiting my best friend while she was stationed in Africa and she asked me to bring her Cabot's cheddar specifically (she is originally from Vt) so I had 4 lbs of 1/2 lb factory sealed cheese in my carry on plus a box of Funfetti cake mix and a box of confectioner's sugar (I was going for her birthday and was going to bake her a cake). They had to check my bags because of the cheese and the TSA agent told me that it was ok, they really did have food in Africa regardless of what all the commercials wanted you to think. I explained why I had so much cheese and she laughed, but she seemed genuinely worried about me for a minute
My dad traveled a lot for work when I was younger, he used to get some odd looks when he would pull my stuffed doll out of his carry on and take a pic of it in the airport. I would always send my doll with him when he went somewhere, I have pics of it all over the world.
Fun post and all, but I need more information about the special japanese flavour kitkat. What was that? I want to try it! 😊
Could have been anything. They've got dozens of special flavors over there. I've tried some that a friend brought back from Japan and I'm amazed they're not sold everywhere.
Load More Replies... When I flew to my grandmother's funeral a few years ago in Indiana from Texas I stopped at White Castle before we hit the airport bought a crave case took it on the plane with me. I had half a case by the time I got back home. Apparently nobody on the plane had ever heard of White castles They smelled it and they were all asking for it including two for the pilots.
Me with nine dozen Montreal bagels and a full quarter-wheel of good imported Gouda, flying home to San Francisco. I apologize for nothing but ye gads the smell of the fresh (like, four hours old) bagels smacked the TSA guy in the face when he opened the suitcase...
My boyfriend got busted with a large quantity of spätzle flour in his suitcase when travelling from Germany.
My husband, when a twenty-something slob, got pulled out of the check-in line (pre-TSA) because he had 6 cheese blintzes, wrapped in aluminum foil by his grandmother. The security people asked him what they were, and he honestly answered cheese blintzes. They made him unwrap them to see that they were actually what he said. To think he would've hijacked a plane to Cuba with cheese blintzes is still hysterical.
I saw a group of guys being stopped at security. They were heading of for a weekend of fun, dressed in various costumes. 'Buza Lightyear' was stopped as he had a gun. The security guy said he could see it was a toy, but needed to call the Police for them to gives permission. The Police arrived in about two minutes, looked at Buzz, grinned and declared "Not a flying toy." They checked his gun and proclaimed it safe.
Before 9/11, my sister, on two different occasions, smuggled kittens inside her sweatshirt from Indiana and from New York to her home in California. I mean, they were strays and too cute to leave behind!
As a child, I got pulled for having a stuffed animal in my backpack. It had to be searched
The TJ’s Ube pancake mix is absolutely worth that hassle, in my opinion. 😋
We dug up an ancient mulberry tree that was about to be felled, pruned it aggressively and took it on the ferry to our new property on Kangaroo Island. A huge trailer, root ball and earth wrapped in sacking, about 8ft of trunk. Ferry staff said "we've got trees on Kangaroo Island, you know".
This list shows 204, but it might be an old list & there could be more: https://thisis-japan.com/kitkat-flavors/
Load More Replies... TSA in Dublin, a s**t ton of candy taken back to the states with my from England, also, the TSA guy was from....Staten Island ( I am from upstate NY)
I found a Dutch candy (Zwart Wit Powder) in a shop in Canada and put it in my partner's backpack. Unfortunately I forgot to tell him this and when he was checked he couldn't tell what it was (he really didn't know). With many apologies and explanations from me, he was then allowed to leave. He was mad at me for a long time, completely understandable. (previous comment deleted to insert picture) Zwart-Wit-...72a64d.jpg
My sister once brought home a huge like child size box of sour patch kids and it got searched for bomb residue lol but I think everyone couldn't stop laughing because it was so comically big
Yeah everytime I go through TSA they ravage my things then act like they don't hear my comments while completely avoiding eye contact for the entire duration
I got pulled because I had 6 large containers of FLUFF (specific type of marshmallow spread. Especially good on PB&J)Anyway, the don't have it. In NC where we live and my kids LOVE it!! Mind you they are both grown. 😄😄 I also got pulled because I had a small metal canister of Starbucks instant coffee. When I visit NE, my family doesn't have a coffee pot.. lol. At least it's good. I think TSA enjoys hearing all the things people bring with them because they don't have it at home/away. We certainly love the things that remind us of home.
I got pulled aside last year because i had a large jar of frozen green chili. My friends mom passed and I was bringing her comfort food! 5 am the tsa guy pulls it out goes "uhhhh ooook then" puts it back and sends me on my way.
I can imagine what frozen green chili looks like, can't blame the TSA guy for that reaction, 😆
Load More Replies... TSA at Norflok Airport had to open my incredibly stuffed backpack to find the source of the 'unidentifiable mass.' It was a good-sized bag of tiny seashells.
I was asked by a TSA agent, very seriously I might add, if I had a jar of peanut butter in my bag (before scanning it). I didn't, but with that level of urgency, I asked if I was supposed to?
I also REALLY wanted to know the backstory to that very specific inquiry...
Load More Replies... I once was travelling from my old home in the UK, to a new home in Canada. Was travelling with a ceramic skull in my travel-on (because I didn't want it smashed in my checked luggage). However, I forgot it was there until I went through security and saw my bag come out of the x-ray, go back in, come out again, go back in again...I will never forget the look on the officers face as she strolled over to me. Thankfully she saw the funny side, afterwards.
We got busted for coco wheats coming back from Chicago to ft. Laud.in the early 2000's. It was in a checked bag , they announced at the gate and I had to explain icouldnt find it in local stores. I even opened one of the boxes and ate a bit. 9/11 made us all a bit crazy
Headed from Sacramento all the way to Cyprus on a military job. My crew already out there ask me to bring Crown Royal. I packed up 4 1.75 Lt bottles in my luggage. 20 mins before boarding TSA wanted to chat. They had already broken into my luggage and I had to explain I was giving it to military members who hadn't had a good drink for awhile. I got through with some laughs... Cyprus has alcohol the Crown Royal is triple the price
I brought bottles of liquid soap home from Spain because it isn’t found in the US. Brought a box of coconuts from Florida for souvenirs. Brought pastries from Thailand. So what did the tsa once search? My cat.
Makes me wonder why no one just ships stuff. That's what we do. We only fly with our carry on bags when we visit friends and family. We ship our clothes and stuff.
I've done that in the past, but with the shipping delays going on now & the increase in fees, I can't see spending that kind of money & possibly having my personal stuff wandering all over creation. Nope, I'll just pack according to TSA guidelines. And if I have anything questionable, I can text or email AskTSA - they are really good about responding within 24 hours or less!
Load More Replies... Why is it that most of the photos you see on-line now-a-days seem to be backwards?
I'm surprised they didn't go through the boxes and open every one searching for drugs
TSA's primary function is for security. Yes, they can look for drugs too, but their focus is on weapons, explosives, etc.
Load More Replies... All I did was have a "hot crotch" in the Vegas airport and I got thoroughly felt up in public by a very dedicated TSA person. Tbf they offered me privacy and I declined lol And I'm very happy they are thorough!
I'd feel a little violated, but hey, some people love that kind of attention
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