Hand luggage is being closely examined at major US airports, with officials asking travellers to remove snacks and powders from their bags for extra security checks.
The Transport Security Administration (TSA) in America is tightening security in a bid to counter terrorism – although the food policy is not an official one.
However, officers at many airports across the US are enforcing the rule.
Airline passengers travelling though major airports including Newark, Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco have been asked to remove both snacks and powders, according to the Telegraph.
Some travellers are being asked to put the food they’d bought to eat on board the plane into separate bins for further inspection.
The increased security levels are resulting in delays.
One passenger even missed a flight due to the severe delays caused by rigorous checks.
Furthermore, the increased security is causing confusion for those who do not speak English.
A TSA spokeswoman told Express.co.uk: “TSA has no policy that mandates that travellers remove food items from their carry-on bags to be placed in separate bins for checkpoint screening.
“However,TSA recommends that passengers consider doing so to lessen the likelihood that there will be a need to open a carry-on bag for a more thorough inspection.”
The TSA say that food in bags can make it harder for hand luggage to be screened.
Their website states: “TSA officers may instruct travellers to separate items from carry-on bags such as foods, powders, and any materials that can clutter bags and obstruct clear images on the X-ray machine.
“Travellers are encouraged to organise their carry-on bags and keep them uncluttered to ease the screening process and keep the lines moving.”
They add: “Even if an item is generally permitted, it may be subject to additional screening or not allowed through the checkpoint if it triggers an alarm during the screening process, appears to have been tampered with, or poses other security concerns.”
The TSA is carrying out these thorough checks as it strives to constantly adapt security methods to tackle what it describes as an evolving terrorist threat.
“As part of its counterterrorism efforts, TSA continuously enhances and adjusts security screening procedures to stay ahead of evolving threats,” the spokeswoman said.
“TSA’s top priority is to protect the traveling public, and every policy and security procedure in place is designed to mitigate threats to passengers and the aviation sector – which we know our adversaries continue to target.
“Adjustments to screening procedures are a necessary part of operations and TSA does so in the most efficient and effective way possible while maintaining a positive passenger experience.
“Intelligence tells us that our adversaries are adept at artfully concealing explosives in common items that individuals travel with, such as food.”
However, the stricter checks do not mean passengers can’t bring food. “It is important to note that travellers can continue to bring their snacks with them,” the spokeswoman explained. “There has been no change in what food items travellers can bring with them through a checkpoint.”
