With the “three-one-one” liquid rule for air travel in place since 2006, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) periodically takes to social media to warn travelers about items that frequently cause trouble during security screening.
At the end of the year, the government agency issues an annual press release saying that common holiday foods such as “egg nog, wine, champagne, maple syrup, and preserves are not solid” and are therefore subject to the three-one-one liquid rule, limiting them to containers of 3.4 ounces or 100 milliliters inside carry-ons.
Earlier Thanksgiving posts on social media platforms including X have focused on turkey leftovers (a perfect mid-air snack) and cranberry sauce (a liquid that needs to be checked if brought in a size surpassing 3.4 ounces).
Can you bring a Mardi Gras King Cake through TSA? Some really want to know
But with the holiday period now behind us, another season very important to one region of the country and religious group is now underway: Mardi Gras, or the festival of excess that comes before the 40-day fast Catholics observe for Lent, has its most vibrant celebrations in New Orleans.
On a given day, approximately one million people descend on the Louisiana city for the festival that is celebrated with parades, extravagant floats, and the signature purple-and-green King Cake.
Related: I rode in a float during Mardi Gras in New Orleans — here’s what it was like
With this year’s Mardi Gras taking place on Tuesday, Feb. 17, multiple people traveling in or out of New Orleans around this time have begun posting on social media to ask whether they can “fly with a King Cake” or some of the other foods commonly eaten during the festival.
As King Cake is a solid and not subject to the liquid rule, issues are likely to arise only if one is traveling internationally (almost every country will have agricultural customs rules that restrict bringing in food items with animal products).
Another problem with toting a King Cake may be too much onboard luggage — airlines limit passengers to one carry-on plus a personal item, so the cake will likely need to be packed inside one of these pieces rather than being carried in its own bag.
More than 500,000 King Cakes are sold for Mardi Gras in New Orleans every year.
Shutterstock
Travelers recount: “Yes, a King Cake counts as an item”
Some passengers have shared their personal flying experiences to help inform fellow travelers regarding carry-on items.
“I flew American on Ash Wednesday a few years back and our agent came over the speaker and said, ‘The FAA limits all passengers to two items onboard, and yes a king cake counts as an item,'” one person flying from New Orleans wrote of her experiences on Reddit.
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The TSA has not made any official posts on Mardi Gras, but offers a page where travelers can check whether specific foods are subject to the liquid rule. For example:
- The hot sauce commonly sold as a souvenir in New Orleans needs to be packed in a small bottle or checked.
- The red beans frequently eaten for the holiday should be okay to bring aboard, but could get flagged depending on how much liquid they are packed in.
“If you can spill it, spray it, spread it, pump it or pour it, then it is a liquid and must be packed in your checked bag,” the TSA writes of its general guidance for whether something is a liquid or a solid.
Related: Another popular holiday destination mulls tourist ban