unfit intelligence for frequent fliers : It may take you a little longer to get through airport security if you ’re packing snack . nutrient is still allow in carry - on bags — so it ’s not on the button metre to panic yet — butThe New York Timesreports thatTSA agentscan postulate passengers to polish off their food and screen it separately , thus hold up the line .
The author of the clause , Shivani Vora , wrote that she was recently delayed 15 minute at Newark Liberty International Airport ’s security system line when she overheard a Transportation Security Administration officer explaining the “ new policy ” to another passenger . She rifle through her two carry - on bags to find all of her snacks , lay them in a separate container , pushed them through the X - light beam , and continued waiting while an officer inspected her food by mitt .
Another rider account being delay 15 minute when the piece in line ahead of her had to transfer all of his Starbursts and raciness - sized Twix , and similar complaint have been circulating in recent months . However , contrary to the TSA factor ’s explanation and the apparent rise in cases such as these , the policy is n’t exactly new . It ’s about a year old , and it gives TSA agent the power to screen food singly if they call for it .
“ There is no official policy which says that TSA agents must demand passengers to hit food from their bag , ” TSA spokesman Mike England tell theTimes . “ Rather , the policy is that officers have the right to ask rider to remove food if they feel that it ’s necessary . ”
The policy was reportedly enacted for safety ground , because overstuffed bags ca n’t be screened as effectively , and some intellectual nourishment items resemble explosive in an cristal - ray . If you ’re not quite ready to give up your snack , though , you may still economize some time in the security line by applying for aTSA PreCheck .
[ h / tThe New York Times ]
