There are three kinds of people on a holiday - the first ones are obsessed about what to wear, the second ones are always diving into the maps to find the next spot on the itinerary, and the third ones are gastronomes always searching for popular and hidden gems to taste the local cuisine and satisfy their hunger. However, no matter which kind you are, everyone likes to munch while they are travelling, irrespective of the reason.
When it’s a road or rail trip, you can pack food in an extra bag but when you are flying, you need to make do with the allowed capacity of checked-in and hang luggage. There is a list of food items that you cannot and should not check in. Check it out for a hassle-free trip.
Foods With Strong Scent
Your check-in baggage is handled robustly, so you might want to stay clear from storing any foods that can leak or add a foul smell to your clothes, footwear, and other essentials. Therefore, it is best to avoid keeping fish, curries, spices, or foods with a strong smell in the check-in baggage. They increase the risks of contamination not just your belongings but others as well in case of a mishap.
Liquids & Semi-Liquids
There is a limit to the liquid that you can carry in the check-in luggage. If you want to carry sauces, pickles, coconut water, jams, and juices, you must avoid them. The news of luggage breakage is not new and despite everyone’s best efforts, these bottles and containers can leak. If you have alcoholic beverages, make sure to keep them securely without going over the storage limit.
Cooked Food With High Moisture Content
Your check-in luggage with all your belongings is certainly not the place in which you can stuff foods with a high moisture content like salads, dressings, pasta, and cooked rice are among them. Who knows how long the flight could be delayed and when you will claim the baggage? These food items can become soggy, start spoiling, and even become the breeding grounds for bacteria and germs that can destroy your belongings.
Pungent Foods
Check the baggage instructions of the airlines you will be flying with to know what foods they have banned in check-in luggage. In most cases, pungent foods like asafoetida and spices are a big no-no. Or if they allow, they have a specific limit you cannot cross. This also includes carrying indigenous foods and beverages from one state to another.
Perishable Foods
Vegetables and fruits are not advised to be packed in the check-in baggage for the same reasons you should not pack high-moisture content food. Unexpected delays in flight, long journeys, and unfortunate mishaps can leave all your belongings contaminated. This also includes cheese, yoghurt, milk, and any other food item that needs to be kept in a temperature-regulated space to prevent spoilage.
Unpacked Foods
Unpacked or sealed meat, nuts, snacks, and any food item should not be kept in your check-in baggage unless you are willing to go through the hassle of cleaning all your belongings thoroughly the minute you step into your home. Many airlines even ban meat in the luggage because it can contaminate not just belongings but if it gets spoiled, the aircraft and luggage of other people might also be exposed to it.
Fragile Foods
Do not store eggs, syrups, and oil bottles in the check-in luggage. They are susceptible to breaking even with a little bit of pressure on them. They can mess up your belongings and if they leak, they can contaminate the aircraft and baggage of other passengers. Not to mention if glass breaks, the shreds will get entangled in your clothes and footwear, making it difficult to get rid of them.