Can You Take Honey on A Plane?

If you’ve been traveling for quite a while now, you should know that airport food can be disappointing and pricey.

You may therefore opt to bring your own snacks or spreads like honey especially if you are scheduled for a long flight.

So, can you bring honey on a plane?

The Quick Answer: Can I take honey on a plane? Yes, but like any other liquid or spreadable food item, it’s subjected to Transportation Security Administration or TSA’s requirements. Honey should be placed in a container that is 3.4 ounces (100 ml) or less if you want to bring it on board. If your honey is crystallized or frozen, you can place it inside your carry-on bag without quantity limitation or packaging requirements. 

Can You Bring Honey Through Airport Security?

Yes. TSA officers allow your travel liquids to get past the checkpoint if you follow their “3-1-1 rule.” This basically means that any food that is liquid, creamy, and spreadable should be placed in a 3.4 oz (or 100 ml) container whether it is a plastic bottle or a small glass jar.

You are allowed to bring more than 1 container if these fit in a quart-sized resealable bag. Please take note that only 1 quart-sized bag is allowed per person.

How About Honey in Plastic Straws? Can You Take Them With You?

Yes. As long as the plastic straws fit inside your quart-sized bag, there shouldn’t be any problem at the checkpoint.

How Should You Take Solid Honey Through the Checkpoint?

Crystallized or frozen honey as well as honey sticks fall under TSA’s policies for solid food items.

If the honey is solid when presented at the checkpoint, TSA officers will allow you to place them inside your carry-on baggage. You are welcome to bring as much as you want as long as they comfortably fit inside.  

Can You Bring Honey in Your Carry-on Bag?

You are only permitted to bring honey in your carry-on bag if it is placed inside a 3.4 oz or less container.

But what if your container exceeds the quantity requirement but only has 3.4 oz or less honey? TSA officers will confiscate it as it is the size of the container that is important not how much is in it. 

After all, if it is a container that can hold 8 ounces with just some in it how is the TSA agent supposed to tell how much it contains?

What Types of Honey Are Allowed?

You are allowed to bring all types of honey as long as you follow TSA’s regulations for spreadable food items. Whether you want to take your homemade honey or honey brought from a grocery store, you’re welcome to do so.

If you’re unsure whether TSA will allow your item on board or not and you have other concerns you want to address, you can reach out to them via Twitter or Facebook.

TSA is available 7 days a week to answer your question. If you’re using Twitter, you can post your inquiry and mention “@AskTSA” so they can see it. On the other hand, you can send a private message to AskTSA on Facebook.

Take a look at how a user asked if they can bring honey in a checked bag:

For follow-up questions, simply reply to TSA’s response, and they will answer you as soon as possible.

TSA may ask you to directly contact their office or other departments, such as the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (U.S. CBP) depending on your inquiry.

Are You Allowed to Bring Honey on an International Flight?

The rule we covered so far mostly applies to domestic flights. If you’re flying out of the United States, TSA officers may allow you to bring honey on board. However, depending on your destination, you may not be permitted to do so.

Some countries restrict travelers from bringing certain food items to their borders, so make sure to do your research before your flight. Nonetheless, if the place you’re traveling to doesn’t allow honey, it wouldn’t be a problem if you consume it on board. 

Can You Eat Honey on a Plane?

Most airlines will allow you to bring your own food, so feel free to bring honey that goes well with your favorite tea or your sandwich. Just make sure that you won’t spill it so you won’t bother other passengers.

What Should You Expect When Bringing Honey Overseas?

Most countries and their states or provinces will allow you to bring honey to their borders with quantity limitations and/or stricter requirements. For example, the United Kingdom and Canada will permit you to bring up to 20 kg of honey.

Meanwhile, if you take honey products to Western Australia, expect a longer quarantine period and a stricter inspection process as the officers need to make sure that your food items are not contaminated. The officers have the right to destroy your honey products if these don’t meet their requirements.

Can You Bring Duty-Free Honey on Board?

Since you will already have passed through the airport security checkpoint, the honey does not need to be 3.4 oz or less. You should leave it in the tamper-evident bag which should remain unopened.

You will need to check that you are permitted to take honey into the country you are traveling to of course.

Remember that the packaging should be transparent as the TSA officers need to inspect the contents. Also, honey products brought within 48 hours are the only ones allowed.

Will You Be Able to Bring Honey Back to the US?

The Department of Agriculture (USDA) has strict regulations for agricultural products like honey and beeswax meant to serve as food for bees. If you’re bringing honey for personal consumption, you will be allowed to do so–whether it is comb honey, royal jelly, or bee bread.

Don’t forget to declare all the food items you brought with you. Otherwise, you’ll have to pay fines of up to $10,000.

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