Peanut Butter
 

Is peanut butter considered a liquid for carry-on restricitions? Our 4yo daughter has celiac disease, and peanut butter is a dietary staple for her. I've read that peanut butter may not be easy to find in France (we're going to Eze), and she's partial to the freshly ground stuff from our local grocery store. Thanks.

Yes, PB is considered a liquid/gel/paste. There are exceptions to the limits for "reasonable quantities" allowed for medical reasons, but I'm not sure what type of documentation you'd need.

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtrav...eds/index.shtm

In my opinion you should place the majority of the PB in your checked bags and only carry-on enough for the flight/1st day rather than risk running into problems at the security check. If you're planning on using only carry-on bags for your trip this would be a good reason to rethink that strategy.

Another option is to FedEx supplies to yourself in Eze so you know it'll be there when you arrive.

I'm no expert but I've seen peanut butter confiscated by the TSA as it is considered a "gel". Put it in your checked luggage to be on the safe side. The thing is what consitutes a "gel" is sometime arbitrary and up to interpretation by the particular TSA agent doing the screening.

Sorry, can't help you about whether or not you can find peanut butter in Eze, France. Suggest you post that question on the European Forum.

Are you trying to go with only carry-on luggage?

If you are checking suitcase(s) just pack it in those and avoid the onboard gel/liquid prohibition.

If you have to carry-on, you can check if it might be allowed as "medical" as there are exceptions for baby formula, etc.

Thanks, all. My concern really stems from reading that many shops, especially in small towns, are closed on Mondays, which is the day we'll arrive, and I won't be able to purchase any provisions for her.

We are attempting to do carry-on-only. I'm going to grind 3oz into a containter the next time we go to the grocery store and see if it will be enough to matter. The weight will print on the bar-coded price label.

The 3oz rule applies to the liquid capacity of the container, not the weight of the PB, so just make sure you use the right size container such as a very small tupperware. You can carry as many 3oz containers as will fit into the 1qt baggie.

PB is not a staple in Europe, so I would not count on being able to find it anywhere. You may luck out, but you may also strike out.

Each person gets a 1 qt. baggie that can have as many 3 oz. (or less) sized containers as will fit in it. So you could use the 2 parents' for the toiletries liquids/gels, and the daughters for here p'nut butter... right?

For your situation traveling with a 4 year old-why would you not check a bag?

Yes I have seen PB confiscated by TSA. Each spring break our church takes 60 high school students to the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico to put roofs on homes. Each student must pack some of the group's supplies and last year this included 3 HUGE jars of PB. We adults forgot to tell the students who had the PB to put it in their checked baggage, so one student put it in his carryon. Sure enough, TSA confiscated it. I hated to think that that HUGE jar of yummy Skippy Creamy PB was simply going into the trash. From now on we'll be sure to tell the students that our PB must be packed in checked luggage.

I think Suze has a great idea for you!

Suze's suggestion is your only option if you want to carry the PB on. I just question how many 3 oz. containers you can fit into a quart-size plastic bag.

I'd check a bag and pack a big jar or two inside.

If you have peanut butter as a carryon, make sure you take it out of the jar and spread it on the sandwich. Then I think you will be fine.

I think you need to check luggage. There are times when carry-on only simply does not work. This appears to be one of those times.

I would not count on readily finding peanut butter anywhere in Europe, with the exception of Holland and (probably) the UK.

If it's 2 people, you and your daughter, you can put several 3-oz containers into one ziplock bag, and bring 2 bags (1 per person).

Do you really need peanut butter where there's Nutella? :p

I agree that in this case, you should consider checking luggage, and not have to deal with potential problems with TSA.

I'd also vote for checking a bag. I always do. It's so much easier.

I know you had a special type in mind to bring, but did you know they make individual sized packages of p'nut butter like people use for on the trail/hiking. Here's one I found on a quick Google search:

<<These 1.15oz packets of organic peanut butter really hit the spot after a day or two on the trail. Justin’s peanuts are USDA certified organic and tested aflatoxin free. Crafted without any added oils or refined sugars. Cholesterol and trans fat free. A great high protein, low carbohydrate food. All blends are made in small batches to ensure a high quality and delicious nut butter everytime>>

You can find it at outdoor stores like REI or online.

another thing to consider - even IF you can get enough PB into the ziplock(s) - it might be confiscated on the plane or in the departure lounge. If anyone on the flight identifies themselves at peanut allergic - then no peanut products will be allowed near that traveler.

I am one of the most enthusiastic carry-on advocates on here (I even teach packing classes) -- but in your case, I'd just take the easy way and check one bag.

If this was my child, I would do all I can: take some PB with me in the carry-on, check-in some of it (what if luggage is lost?), make sure I have written in French what is allowed, and what is not, have a list of addresses where to buy it, phone numbers and adresses of doctors, English-speaking if needed.

Thanks again, everyone!

Nutella ... C loves it and eats it all the time! Only it's full of sugar and she ends up with it all over her face. Quite messy!

I think we will end up checking one bag. I measured out 3oz of PB at the grocery store yesterday and it wasn't enough to bother with. I usually buy it by the pound; not sure how many liquid ounces it is.

1 pound = 16 ounces