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 someone well-versed in travel regulations and TSA protocols, let's delve into the specifics of the recent TSA controversy regarding peanut butter as a liquid.
Firstly, the TSA's determination of peanut butter as a liquid falls under their broader category for substances that can be spread, smeared, sprayed, or spilled. While the classification might seem peculiar, it aligns with their guidelines for carry-on items. The 3.4 oz limit for liquids, including peanut butter, is a standard part of their security measures.
Regarding the debate on peanut butter being sold by weight rather than volume, this discrepancy between weight and volume in the classification of certain substances isn't unique. Liquids are often measured by volume for regulatory purposes, but their sale can be based on weight due to packaging and consistency variations.
The mention of non-Newtonian fluid by a Twitter user is intriguing. Indeed, certain materials, including some types of peanut butter, exhibit non-Newtonian behavior. These substances don't conform to the classical definition of viscosity under stress conditions like squeezing, shaking, or stirring. Instead, their flow properties change under stress, sometimes behaving more like a solid.
The TSA's witty social media approach, filled with puns, is a trademark of their communication strategy. While their tweets may contain humor, they also serve as a means to convey essential travel information, including regulations on various types of food items.
To summarize, the TSA's peanut butter rule aligns with their guidelines for carry-on liquids, regardless of the weight-versus-volume argument. The discourse on non-Newtonian behavior and its relation to peanut butter viscosity is an intriguing scientific angle, albeit not a direct factor in TSA regulations.
Lastly, for travelers, solid foods, including peanut butter sandwiches, are permissible in carry-on bags without quantity limitations or specific packing requirements, as confirmed by the TSA.
If there are further updates or clarifications from the TSA on this matter, they could provide additional insight into the rationale behind this specific classification of peanut butter.
