following several moms describing trouble experienced with some airport security staff regarding carrying gel-packs for cooling breast milk, a member of the CDC breastfeeding parents listserv e-mailed TSA for clarification. TSA response is below. Bottom line: Gel-packs are permitted in any size to keep breast milk and liquid medications cold. Travelers may want to print and carry TSA response with them. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *From:* TSA-ContactCenter [mailto:[log in to unmask]] *Sent:* Friday, October 26, 2007 6:08 PM *Subject:* Re: Customer Service Feedback Thank you for contacting the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Contact Center. TSA has modified its policy on carrying breast milk through the security checkpoint. Parents flying without their children are now permitted to bring breast milk through the checkpoint in quantities larger than 3 ounces as long as it is declared for inspection. Previously, the policy was restricted to only parents traveling with children. TSA now has measures in place to screen breast milk and other exempt liquids, gels, and aerosols for explosives. Any additional screening does not contaminate or directly contact the item. Passengers traveling with infants and toddlers can also carry on gel-filled or liquid-filled teethers; canned, jarred, or processed baby food; juice; and milk. These items are permitted in reasonable quantities exceeding 3 ounces, and are not required to be in a sealable bag. Because these exempt items must be declared to a security officer at the security checkpoint, we recommend that you only carry onto the aircraft the amount needed for you and your child's immediate comfort. Larger volumes should be packed in your checked bag. Please separate containers of breast milk and other exempt items from the liquids, gels, and aerosols in your quart-sized zip-top bag and declare them to the Security Officers at the security checkpoint. *Bre//ast milk is in the same category as liquid medications. //**/ ///Gels or frozen liquids needed to cool medically related items are permitted.// * Other liquids, gels and aerosols are still restricted to TSA's 3-1-1 policy (3 ounce bottles or less; 1 quart-sized, clear, plastic, sealable bag; one bag per passenger placed into the screening bin). More information about TSA's 3-1-1 policy can be found on our website at www.tsa.gov <http://www.tsa.gov/>. We hope this information is helpful. TSA Contact Center --- Original Message --- Received: 10/26/2007 11:13:48 AM Eastern Standard Time To: "TSA Contact Center" <[log in to unmask]> Subject: Customer Service Feedback THIS GENERATED EMAIL HAS BEEN SENT FROM TSA INTERNET CONTACT US-CUSTOMER SERVICE __________________________________________ To: [log in to unmask] Category: Passenger and Traveler Information Sub Category: All Other Passenger & Travel Inquiries Message: Could you please advise me if ice packs to keep medications or breast milk cold in carry-on luggage would be a prohibited item? There are gel-based ice packs, but I haven't found any that are 3 ounces or less. Please advise. -- [log in to unmask] ********************** "Formula feeding is the longest lasting uncontrolled experiment lacking informed consent in the history of medicine." 1997 - Frank Oski, MD, retired editor, Journal of Pediatrics *********************************************** Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html To reach list owners: [log in to unmask] Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask] COMMANDS: 1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set lactnet nomail 2. To start it again: set lactnet mail 3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet 4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome