Can I take it?
Can you take food in hand luggage?
Solid food — sandwiches, cake, fruit, crisps — is allowed in hand luggage. Runny or spreadable food like soup, jam, honey and yoghurt counts as a liquid, so it must fit your departure airport’s container limit. Frozen food and liquids can’t go in hand luggage.
| Type | Hand luggage | Checked baggage |
|---|---|---|
| Solid food (sandwiches, cakes, fruit, snacks) | Yes Solid food is allowed in hand luggage at the airports we’ve checked. | Yes Allowed in checked baggage. |
| Liquid or semi-liquid food (soup, jam, honey, yoghurt, sauces) | With conditions Counts as a liquid, so the container size limit depends on the airport you fly from (100ml or up to 2 litres per container). | Yes Allowed in checked baggage. |
| Frozen food or frozen liquids | No You can’t carry frozen liquids in hand luggage. | Yes Pack it in checked baggage instead. |
Solid or liquid? A quick test
GOV.UK counts liquid or semi-liquid foods such as soup, jam, honey and syrups as liquids. GOV.UK also includes anything of a similar consistency, so if it pours, spreads or squeezes, treat it as a liquid. If you’re not sure about something like peanut butter or hummus, keep it within the limit or pack it in the hold.
| Flying from | Largest jar or pot in hand luggage |
|---|---|
| Manchester, Stansted and Luton | 100ml |
| Heathrow, Gatwick, Birmingham, Bristol and Edinburgh | 2 litres |
Flying to the United States from Heathrow
Flying to the US: powders over 350g or 350ml aren’t allowed in your cabin bag. Heathrow lists this on its own security page — see Heathrow liquid rules.
Frozen food
You can’t carry frozen liquids in hand luggage. Gatwick and Edinburgh also say frozen foodstuffs aren’t permitted. Pack it in checked baggage instead.
Check a food item
Before you pack a picnic
- Food and powders can slow down screening, so airports suggest packing them in the hold where possible.
- Your destination country may restrict bringing food in. Check your destination’s official guidance before you pack food.
- Baby food and milk have their own exemption — see the item checker under “Baby food and milk”.