New TSA rules
...TSA says that more than 12 ounces of powder will now be subject to additional screening and fliers will be asked to remove the packages from their carry-ons...
https://www.cntraveler.com/story/the-tsas-new-powder-rule-explained

Thanks, gbelle1. Is it because of the poisons?

No - because of new types of explosives. 12 oz is a pretty large container of powder to tae on holiday so shouldn't impact many except maybe those carrying protein powder . . .

And now there are reports that they are searching and swabbing food to be carried on. It seems the scanner machines can't tell cheese from C4.

I didn't remember reading about that Australian bomb plot so looked it up.

Sydney terror plot: Lebanon says it helped Australia foil plane bomb plan linked to raids - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-08-0...rupted/8773752

Looks as if it's coming to the UK as well

Makeup baby powder coffee spices to be banned from UK hand luggage | Daily Mail Online

May as well make us fly naked and buy everything at our destination

But where would you put your credit card and passport? No, no, no! Not there!

Yep. This happened to me at SFO when I returned from Emilia Romana with five wedges of hand crafted Parmigiano Reggiano in my carry-on. The guy who spotted them on the X-ray kind of freaked, but everyone calmed down after they opened the bag and wiped them with the pads. I know TSA gets a lot of grief, but when you consider the pressure they're under, and the ever changing methods of terrorists, the inconvenience of inspection is easier to take.

Yup, I was stopped for too much chocolate in my carry-on recently. Admittedly it would have looked like a solid block in the scanner, which the (kind and polite) TSA agent explained was about the size and shape they are looking for.

When the food is in your suitcase the cheese and meat come up orange like explosives. If a bag check is called on your bag protocol is swab the bag and item for a check on explosive residue. I bring home cheese and rashers from NY and take them out of suitcase and place in bin automatically now. Oscar's smokehouse is the best. They are sealed so safe for travel. I am always happy to see the bomb dog and then I feel safe and security is easier than precheck.

What we hear from EWR (Newark-Liberty Intntl) is that some passengers are asked to remove their snacks/foods from their carryon, so from now on, we'll pkg that separately in clear bag for potential inspection. Have no problem with these safeguards.

I understand the need for these rules, but the problem is individual TSA officers will not follow their own rules. I presume this is from lack of training & communication. But whatever the reason, don't be surprised if they tell you--we're just going to swab it--but when you arrive, it's a different story.

I have had multiple bottles of contact solutions thrown out over the years, even when I hand them a screenshot of their own website saying that I have the right to bring it in my carry-on. They offer me a challenge, which includes a pat-down, but warn me I will probably still end up throwing it out.