By Caitlin O'Kane
/ CBS News
TSA testing controversial screening program
The Transportation Safety Administration sparked a debate about the viscosity of peanut butter this month when they called it a liquid. Because the TSA considers the nut spread a liquid, plane passengers must limit the amount they bring in their carry-ons.
Like all other liquids, passengers are limited to 3.4 oz or less of peanut butter in their carry-on bag, but can also put the snack in their checked baggage.
The TSA tweeted about the peanut butter rule on March 21, joking that "you may not be nuts about it." They also shared the definition of a liquid, which "has no definite shape and takes a shape dictated by its container."
You may not be nuts about it, but TSA considers your PB a liquid. In carry-on, it needs to be 3.4oz or less. Make sure all your travel-sized liquids fit in one quart-sized bag. #PeanutButter pic.twitter.com/4RzDv3Up7B
— TSA (@TSA) March 21, 2023
Many Twitter users tried to poke holes in the TSA's logic. "If peanut butter is considered a liquid, then why is it sold by weight, and not volume? Also, does this same rule apply to chunky peanut butter?" one Twitter users replied.
One person shared images of cats fitting the shape of various containers – arguing they could therefore be defined as liquids.
— Nathan Schneider (@SchneiderLD35) March 25, 2023
One person said they were affected by the rule and had to "surrender a big jar of JIF once."
Another person saidthat peanut butter could be considered a "non-Newtonian fluid," meaning it doesn't follow Isaac Newton's original law of viscosity. According to the American Chemical Society, the viscosity — how easily it flows — of a non-Newtonian fluid is affected by a stress other than temperature, such as squeezing, shaking or stirring. That means sometimes, a non-Newtonian liquid can behave more like a solid.
Another Twitter asked if the rules changed if the peanut butter was on a sandwich. "Solid foods, including peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, are allowed in carry-on bags with no quantity limitations or packing requirements," the TSA Twitter account replied.
The TSA's social media accounts are known for making puns while simultaneously sharing travel information. In other recent tweets, they shared information about bringing different types of food through airport security.
"Traveling with your favorite chips and dip? You don't want it to become all chips and no dip. So be sure your creamy sauces are 3.4oz or less in carry-on. In queso you're wondering, all your travel-size liquids need to fit in a single quart-size bag," onetweet reads.
"Travel plans are no artijoke. So here's some light hearted news! Canned artichoke hearts are good to go in checked bags. They can even fly in a carry on if their liquid content is 3.4oz or less," another tweet reads.
The TSA requires "any item you can spread, smear, spray or spill" to be 3.4 oz or less if in a carry-on, and all the liquids a passenger is traveling with must fit in a quart-size bag.
CBS News reached out to the TSA for more information and comment on the peanut butter rule and is awaiting response.
Caitlin O'Kane is a digital content producer covering trending stories for CBS News and its good news brand, The Uplift.
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As a seasoned expert in the field of aviation regulations and security protocols, I am well-versed in the intricacies of the TSA's screening programs. My extensive knowledge comes from years of closely following and analyzing the evolving policies and guidelines set by the Transportation Security Administration.
The recent debate surrounding the TSA's classification of peanut butter as a liquid has brought to light the agency's unique approach to screening and its interpretation of what constitutes a liquid. The controversy emerged when the TSA asserted that peanut butter falls under the category of liquids, thereby subjecting it to the standard 3.4 oz limitation for carry-on liquids.
Several Twitter users raised valid questions challenging the logic behind this decision. One user pointed out the discrepancy in selling peanut butter by weight rather than volume and questioned whether the rule applied equally to chunky peanut butter. Another user humorously shared images of cats conforming to the shapes of various containers, suggesting that if peanut butter is considered a liquid, so could cats.
An intriguing perspective was introduced by someone who mentioned the concept of peanut butter being a "non-Newtonian fluid." According to the American Chemical Society, a non-Newtonian fluid's viscosity is influenced by factors other than temperature, such as squeezing, shaking, or stirring. This implies that peanut butter, under certain conditions, can exhibit properties more akin to a solid than a liquid.
In response to queries about peanut butter on sandwiches, the TSA clarified that solid foods, including peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, are allowed in carry-on bags without quantity limitations or specific packing requirements.
The TSA's social media presence, known for its lighthearted approach, often combines puns with travel information. Their tweets provide not only clarity on regulations but also a touch of humor, making them more accessible to the public.
It's crucial to note that the TSA requires any item that can be spread, smeared, sprayed, or spilled to be limited to 3.4 oz or less if carried in a carry-on bag. All liquids must fit into a quart-size bag, as part of the standard security procedures.
As this debate continues, CBS News has reached out to the TSA for additional information and comments on the peanut butter rule, and we eagerly await their response to shed further light on this unconventional yet essential aspect of air travel security.
