Baby formula on planes - do you really have to taste it?

[LooseyC]

I've read on the BAA website that while there is no 100ml limit for formula on planes you still have to taste it. I was intending to take some small cartons, and if you open them they are obviously not sterile any more and we can't use them later. This seems nuts - can anyone tell me if this is actually enforced or can you talk sense to security staff?

We're going on our first holiday with 5 month old next week from Gatwick - luckily short haul to South of France, but would like to have some spares in case of delays etc. I would also prefer to use the normal brand rather than hope can get it after security as it's going to be a strange enough experience already for ds I think.

Any tips appreciated!

hi there, yes the whole situation's stupid, isn't it?
we will have the same problem when we go to s. of france with 10month old next month.
my last experience of this was quite mixed. i took a number of bottles of milk already made up - it was winter and i gambled on them being okay for a few hours (which they were). I did indeed have to taste them all. obviously this would have been totally impractical with the cartons.
But the level to which it was enforced was a bit erratic. how about buying sterile "once only" use bottles, taking formula powder, and asking for boiled water on the plane? obviously you would need to wait for it to cool and it would be a pain but it's one way round the rules.
you could also as a backup see how you get on taking a couple of those ready made cartons through security - you may well find they just get nodded through.
finally, i think formula does last longer than people say and i expect - assuming it doesn't get very hot etc you'd be fine just taking a couple of bottles made up as normal to last you for the flight.

Take a couple of bottles of made up 200mls and some powder in one of those divided pot things and an empty bottle. Then you're covered for all eventualities. There is bugger all point in taking cartons because they will make you open them. There is no sense in talking to security I'm afraid

That's what I feared! I can't believe how mad this rule is. I might ring Boots in Gatwick and see what they have in stock after security.

DS doesn't like the steribottles very much unfortunately so think will have to go with your suggestion spicemonster.

Boots airside stock all the main brands of formula in the cartons, and lots of them for this very reason.

And don't blame security - they have to follow the international security rules, and its what they are paid to enforce. I keep seeing people having a go at them, for enforcing the widely publicised rules.

I had to open 4 cartons, the lot was over my bag by the time we got where we were going, all my real nappies had to go in the wash.

We were only topping up fortunately so I was still able to feed her.

I don't see why this is a ridiculous rule - what sense would there be in making exemptions for baby milk? I can see the stories in the papers now - "yes, well the terrorists were very cunning you see - they brought their (whatever it is they bring) onto the plane in a baby milk bottle - who'd have thought it eh?"

Hi cmotdibbler, looks like Boots is the answer.

I'm not blaming the security staff at all. I'd hate to have to enforce this rule to irate parents - what a job. It's just that if the recommendation is to have sterile feed for babies I don't know why it can't be exempt from security rules. I don't believe the threat warrents it personally (and I want a safe trip obviously!)

I top up Callum, and took cartons in my hold bags and just had one bottle made up for the taxi transfer, which I had to taste. Better than opening up all the cartons

The 100ml rule does not always seem to apply to baby foods.

We flew to Italy last week and had 2 bottles of 200ml each of cooled boiled water and some jars of food. DH had to taste the water, all the jars, but strange enough we didn't have to open or taste the little yoghurts.

I'd make a run for Boots once you're through security as I was behind this woman who took nearly the entire stock of formula cartons.

We used Hipp Oganic bottle of formula - ds loved them even though previously he had been on sma/something else that I cant remember.

We took through jars and did not have to taste them or my bottles of water. It does seem rather hit and miss. Luckily DS was still fully breastfed at the time so we didn't have to worry too much. We flew from Coventry where they don't sell much of anything airside so that might be something to consider.

Can you take powder? I'm assuming I can buy formula when I arrive though...

You can take powder and weirdly as others have said you don't have to taste jars of food. I think there's something specific about liquid explosives that can't be concealed in a jar of orange goo

Yoghurts are also fine (although if you read the guidelines, if they're in a pot, they must go in a clear plastic bag but jars of baby food don't have to. So if you have a jar of yoghurt, you don't need a bag. Which doesn't make a lot of sense!

Take what you need for holiday in your case, what you need before customs in your bag and what you need for the flight buy from the hospital.

Sorry, typing what I hear. I meant to say from Boots airside.

Thanks for all this - I'll try and report back after my hols... and hope that Boots have a large stock of the stuff on the day we travel!

We've just been to Spain and had to do this.

Going out we took 2 full bottles and the rest made up to 100ml with the plan that we would buy cartons at Boots after security.
I was a bit that we would be able to get any as it was an early morning flight so didnt know whether it would be open, and the fact that he has Aptamil number 2, so not a "normal" formula.

But they were open and they did have it.

Dh did have to taste all the bottles though.
We agreed that we would share the testing but you know, I was busy with the kids

Coming home security was non existant and we took through a massive bottle of water, 2 full bottles and 6 cartons of formula that they didnt check.

Yes, dp had to taste all the bottles on a flight to the US! What really struck me was that the Americans themselves were astonished by the story and didn't do any such thing.

I've just retuned from South of france and didn't have to taste anything, I took bottles of boiled water and milk powder in sectioned pot and wans't asked to taste, also took jars with no probs, however on return journey, DP had deodorant taken off him, yet I took a litre bottle of water through and explained it was for DC's to drink in departures and would not go on plane and they were fine, just think it's down to whether you get a jobs worth or not.

well i had to taste mine and they were in pre sealed cartons, i had to on seal them and taste them and even the water i was taking to.

could u take powdered milk?

OK so... In case anyone is interested we did manage to get cartons after security, but only just as they had almost run out of our brand... we did take power and water just in case (I left my dh to taste the lovely lukewarm water)

As others have reported, coming back the security people in the South of France didn't care at all about any of the liquid/ water we were carrying. Took half the time!

Thanks for all the tips. Think we need another holiday to get over that one now!

But what if you don't have a Boots airside!!!!