Chocolate in Carry-on Baggage: Those are the Rules to Follow

 

Well, who doesn’t like chocolate? I definitely do. This might be true because I am actually a Swiss. But even if I wouldn’t be, there would still be a good chance that I wouldn’t mind to eat some chocolate from time to time.

Chocolate also makes for a great gift. So let’s say you are visiting your friend in Paris and you would like to surprise them with some nice (Swiss) chocolate bars and maybe a Toblerone (I am obviously biased when it comes to chocolate).

What are the rules, then? Supposed you are flying to Paris and would like to put all that chocolate in your Hand Luggage.

 

Are you allowed to carry chocolate in carry-on baggage?

Transporting chocolate in carry-on baggage is generally permitted. However, it must be chocolate in solid form. If it is chocolate in liquid forms, such as chocolate mousse, you must comply with the regulations for liquids in hand luggage. These regulations stipulate that liquids in carry-on baggage may not be transported in containers of more than 100 ml each. These containers, in turn, must be stored in a special plastic bag for liquids. It is also important to note in this context:

• The bag for liquids must be resealable and transparent.
• The capacity of the liquid bag must not exceed one litre.
• The bag must be presented separately at the security checkpoint.
• Only one bag per person is allowed.

 

Can chocolates be transported in carry-on baggage?

 

Transporting chocolates in carry-on-baggage is not a problem as long as they have a solid filling.

If, however, chocolates with a liquid filling (e.g. alcohol filling) are involved, one would strictly speaking have to assume that the rules for liquids in carry-on baggage (known as the 3-1-1 liquid rule) would have to be respected.

And this means that the chocolates would have to be transported in the bag for the liquids. Furthermore, the liquid chocolates would also need the be transported in the quantities described above.

However, we are obviously in a grey area here, and if one can believe reports of experience on the Internet, then the liquid chocolates in carry-on baggage are generally tolerated as well.

The total amount of liquid in pralines is rather low after all, so you generally do not run into trouble, even if you do not stow them in the liquid bag. 

It has to be mentioned that the airlines have no problem with chocolates (liquid core!) in their hand luggage. If there are problems, it is not because of the airlines themselves, but because of the security check at the airport.

After all, it is always the staff at the security checkpoint who decide whether an item is allowed on the journey or not.

With chocolates with a liquid core, there is a small danger that the security personnel will not tolerate them, as this – together with other liquids that you might transport – may cause the maximum of liquids (per container) to be exceeded.

And what is more, all liquids should be in the plastic bag for liquids anyway. But your Mon Chérie chocolate is most probably not gonna fit in there. But don’t worry. In most cases, the security staff will tolerate these kinds of chocolates, even when not placed in the dedicated bag for liquids.

I recently contacted SWISS and Ryanair and asked them again explicitly how they handle the problem of “chocolates with a liquid core”. The airlines did not want to make any concrete comments.

They just said: “Please contact the airport staff to find out whether this is possible or not. However, the lady from SWISS also said: “It is very likely that those chocolates will not cause any problems with the security control”.

 

Can Nutella be transported in cabin baggage?

With Nutella, the case is clear. Nutella is considered a liquid by airport security personnel.

Accordingly, Nutella in traditional Nutella glasses must not be carried in carry-on baggage, as the capacity of the container is well over 100 ml. The rules for liquids in carry-on baggage apply here.

If you absolutely want to carry Nutella in your carry-on, there are still two possibilities:

• You buy Nutella in mini jars (25 g per jar). These glasses can then be safely stored in the bag for liquids. The Nutella bread spread is also available in even smaller portions (15 grams per portion). You can find these products on Amazon, for example.
• You transfer your Nutella into your own containers (max. 100 grams per container, don’t forget). On Amazon, you will find suitable travel containers, which you can also use for transferring other liquids (including creams and lotions).

 

Chocolate in hand luggage when travelling to/from the USA

When travelling to the USA, the same rules apply to chocolate as in Europe. In concrete terms, this means that here, too, it depends on whether the chocolate is in solid or liquid form.

In the USA, the American Transport Safety Authority (TSA) is responsible for public safety in traffic and also in air traffic. Accordingly, the TSA also determines what may and may not be carried in hand luggage.

The TSA says the following about the transport of liquids in hand luggage:

 

Chocolate (Liquid)

Carry On Bags: Yes (Less than 3.4oz/100 ml allowed)

Checked Bags: Yes

 

Solid food items (not liquids or gels) can be transported in either your carry-on or checked bags. Liquid or gel food items larger than 3.4 oz are not allowed in carry-on bags and should be placed in your checked bags if possible.

 

Chocolate (Solid)

Carry On Bags: Yes

Checked Bags: Yes

 

Solid food items (not liquids or gels) can be transported in either your carry-on or checked bags. Liquid or gel food items larger than 3.4 oz are not allowed in carry-on bags and should be placed in your checked bags if possible.

Both liquid chocolate and solid chocolate may be transported in carry-on luggage when travelling to/from the USA.

And also in containers with a maximum capacity of 100 ml, as is the case in the EU and almost everywhere else in the world.

The liquid rule that is applied in the US is very similar to the EU-Rule. However, in the US, the rule is called 3-1-1 liquid rule

The TSA further specifies that both liquid and solid chocolate may also be transported in checked baggage. And the 100 ml rule does not apply there. Liquid chocolate in quantities greater than 100 ml can therefore also be transported there.

 

Chocolate in checked baggage

Transporting chocolate in checked baggage is permitted. The 100 ml rule for liquids in carry-on is logically not applicable here. This means that you can also transport larger quantities of liquid chocolate in checked baggage.

As we saw in the last section, this is also the case for trips to/from the USA.