How do you travel w/ donor's milk?

Thank you for your e-mail regarding the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) policies on traveling with breast milk and child related liquids and/or gels.

Passengers flying with or without an infant or toddler may bring more than 3.4 ounces of breast milk (in a liquid or frozen state) through the security checkpoint, but it will be subjected to additional screening. The breast milk must be separated from other liquids, gels, and aerosols; and declared to the Transportation Security Officer (TSO) prior to entering the screening checkpoint.

Although TSA does not specifically limit the amount of breast milk or other items a passenger may bring in their carry-on bags, we encourage travelers to be practical about these amounts. The amount should be reasonable and consistent with the traveler's itinerary. All passengers are encouraged to ask to speak with a supervisor at the security checkpoint if they have any questions or concerns with these procedures.

Individuals are also allowed to bring more than 3.4 ounces of pre-mixed baby formula (in a liquid or frozen state), milk products, juice, gel or liquid-filled teethers, canned, jarred, or processed baby food into the screening checkpoint. These items must be declared to a TSO prior to the passenger entering the screening checkpoint and the items must be separated from other liquids, gels, and aerosols. These items also will be subjected to additional screening.

Please note, modifications also allow bottled water, presented as an infant or toddler medical exemption, into the secured area after it receives additional screening. Passengers traveling with bottled water necessary for medical reasons and/or intended for their infant's or toddler's use through the security checkpoint must:

. declare it to the TSO prior to entering the screening checkpoint and prior to x-ray examination;
. inform the TSO that the bottled water is necessary for medical reasons and/or intended for an infant or toddler; and
. open the bottle for additional screening, if required by a TSO.

Liquids are permitted if required to cool medical and infant/child exemptions. Frozen items are also permitted so long as they are solid and in a "frozen state" when presented for screening if not required for infant/child necessities. If these frozen items are partially melted or have any liquid at the bottom of the container, the ice/liquid container must meet 3-1-1 requirements.

We recognize that the information on our website is not all inclusive and that many passengers have additional concerns regarding traveling with items intended for use by infants and toddlers. Many of these concerns include how the current screening procedures accommodate the handling of essential food items passengers must carry onboard the plane for their infant or toddler, such as breast milk, milk products, formula (to include related mixing products), baby food, and juice.

Breast milk and other liquids and gels intended for infants or toddlers are in the same category as medical liquid exemptions and are normally x-rayed and will always be subjected to additional screening if in containers larger than 3.4 oz. However, as a customer service, TSA allows a passenger the option of a visual inspection of these items. A passenger must request a visual inspection before screening begins; otherwise, all of the items must undergo x-ray inspection. If an item is not x-rayed, in addition to a visual inspection of the items, TSOs will test the items, including breast milk, for explosives. Passengers may be required to open the containers but will never be asked to test or taste any of these items. If containers cannot be opened, the containers may be allowed into the sterile area after the passenger is subjected to additional screening.

TSA continues to explore opportunities to further modify screening procedures to minimize the concerns of passengers without compromising aviation security. The most current processes in place for bringing breast milk and other food-related items intended for infants and young children safely through the security screening checkpoint can be found at www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/children/formula.shtm.

Passengers are also invited to contact their airline in advance to request any special accommodations for their flight. In addition, please visit our website regularly for updates to special screening procedures.

We hope this information is helpful.


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