The TSA Pickle Drama, Explained
Flying is a popular choice of transportation for many people, with about 2.9 million passengers flying to and from the United States each day, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) was created on November 19, 2001, shortly after the terrorist attacks in Pennsylvania, Virginia, and New York on September 11, 2001, per TSA.
Aiming to prevent another catastrophic event from happening, the TSA uses different security technology to screen airline passengers before boarding their flights, such as advanced imaging technology, x-rays, scanners for boarding passes and bottled liquids, and more (via TSA).
The TSA was created for a good reason, and it's safe to say that they take airport security extremely seriously. You can't blame the TSA for being so strict because some people take unusual measures to smuggle different things through airport security such as a gun inside a raw chicken and drugs inside a burrito. Every possible precaution is taken, and TSA wouldn't even let a cupcake through security because it could've been used to hide a bomb. Recently, TikTok user @kelly_welch shared their airport experience with the TSA, and it involves a pickle. Here's exactly what went down.
A pickle was flagged and checked by airport security
In their TikTok, @kelly_welch posted a "reenactment" of her encounter with airport security where TSA flagged a pickle she had purchased from popular sandwich chain Jimmy John's. The security person asked the TikToker to open the pickle up so that it could be checked — talk about an unforgettable experience. One person wondered why she would even bring a pickle through airport security in the first place, and @kelly_welch explained that the airport she was flying out of was rather small and didn't have any food options. Because of this, she ordered a sandwich from Jimmy John's before boarding and didn't want to throw the pickle away, so she brought it with her.
Several commenters on TikTok related heavily and shared their weird experiences with airport security too. One person commented, "When I was 13, a TSA agent asked me if there were explosives in my spray deodorant." Another person shared, "When I was ten, they asked if they could rip open my American girl doll to see if I was smuggling anything." Others found humor in the situation, writing, "They just wanted a peek at the goods" and "Did they ask for a bite too[?]" Interestingly, TSA says that fresh fruits and vegetables, frozen food, and cooked meat and vegetables are allowed in checked bags and in carry-on bags as long as the items don't have more than 3.4 ounces of liquid or gel.