Back-Seat Driver: Sorry, that cherry pie is a problem

Is cherry pie un-American now?

That's the question Michael Burdick asked after an experience last week at Sacramento International Airport's security checkpoint.

Burdick had flown home to Sacramento to visit his parents for Thanksgiving. He brought with him, in his carry-on bag, a bunch of frozen cherries he had handpicked back in July. There was no problem getting them through security.

At his parents' house, he baked two exquisite cherry pies, he says, each with classic lattice crust.

The first pie was a big hit at the Thanksgiving table, he says. Most of the second pie was leftover, so he packed it in his carry-on bag – along with some pumpkin pie – for the trip home to Portland.

He knew the federal government bans liquids in containers of more than 3 ounces from carry-on luggage. He wondered if a cherry pie could be considered liquid, so he checked the Internet and didn't see anything about pies being liquids.

But as the bag rolled through the X-ray machine, the Transportation Security Administration technician asked: "Is that a pie?"

Burdick said yes. "What kind?" Cherry, he said. Step over here please, the security official said.

The official took a peek. The pumpkin you can carry on. The cherry, no. It needs to be in checked baggage.

Burdick took it down to the Southwest Airlines counter where an airline ticketing agent helped him wrap some of his clothes around the pie tin and tape it together with duct tape.

The pie remnants survived the trip. Burdick says he polished them off that night.

But he was bugged. Banning a pie is just silly, he said. For that matter, you never really know what will be allowed through security and what won't, he complained.

"This seems to me to be proof that the TSA has gone completely off the deep end," he said. "Somebody needs to rein them in."

Here's the irony. TSA policy does not ban pies of any kind from carry-on luggage, according to spokesman Nico Melendez. The agent Burdick dealt with apparently didn't know that.

The TSA Web site – if you can find the right link, which isn't always easy – says this: "Note: You can bring pies and cakes through the security checkpoint, but be advised that they might be subject to additional screening."

It's on this page: www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/ holiday_311.shtm

That page also lists holiday food items you cannot bring in your carry-on luggage, including: gravy, salad dressing , cranberry sauce, salsa, sauces, maple syrup, creamy dips, beverages, jam, jelly and soup.

Also, don't wrap Christmas gifts if you are going to carry them on board.

The federal security agency has been on a push to be more clear on what is and isn't allowed, Melendez said, in order to help fliers be prepared to move more quickly through checkpoint lines.

Melendez did not find Burdick's pie tale as amusing as we did. "It's not amusing at all," he said, crustily.

The TSA had a problem with security officers banning some pies at airports last year – after many liquids were banned from carry-ons – and had thought that was cleared up. "We addressed it quite clearly from coast to coast."

Melendez reports that he called the Sacramento TSA office and cleared up the pie confusion.

Good, said Burdick. With millions of already harried holiday travelers shuffling through airports, there's no need for half-baked security rules.

About the writer:

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