10 Gifts TSA May Confiscate From Your Carry On

I’m heading across the country to visit my sister, brother-in-law and nephew for

Christmas. This means I’ve had to be very creative when buying gifts. They must be small enough to fit in my suitcase, durable enough to withstand travel and safe enough to make it through security. There are plenty of popular gifts that will not be approved by TSA this holiday travel season. Here are ten gifts officers may confiscate from your carry on.

1. Cranberry sauce, jams or jellies:

These items may not seem to be true liquids, but TSA sees them that way so they are not allowed.
2. Cologne or perfume: You can’t take this through security unless it’s less than two ounces of liquid. However, you could buy fragrances in a duty free shop once you’ve passed through security.
3. Creamy dips and spreads: Your family may have a thing for gourmet peanut butter, but that’s not going to make it through security either.
4. Lotions: Lotions can make great gifts for loved ones, but the security officer won’t care if they’re over two ounces. They could get confiscated.
5. Maple Syrup: Pure maple syrup is a wonderful gift idea for foodies, but you’ll end up giving it to security instead of your loved one.
6. Oils, vinegars and salad dressing: These are all on the naughty list for TSA.
7. Salsa: No matter how chunky your salsa is it’s still seen as a liquid and won’t make it past the checkpoint.
8. Snow globes: You may not think of a snow globe as a liquid, but it is and it won’t make it through security.
9. Soups: While prepared soups won’t make the cut you could always bring through dried soup mix.
10. Wine or liquor: This is another item that could be purchased at a duty free shop once you make it through security.

Gift wrapping isn’t prohibited by TSA, but if a security guard needs a closer look, they will unwrap your presents, no matter how pretty they look. You may be better off sending them through the mail or just wrapping them once you arrive at your destination.