Airport security discarded ALL my frozen expressed milk before our flight

[Nadsthakur]

During security screening, approximately 25 ounces of my frozen expressed breast milk was confiscated and discarded. I was told that because it was frozen, it could not be tested and therefore could not be taken through security.

I explained several times that this milk was for my 8-month-old daughter, who is unable to latch and is exclusively fed expressed breast milk. This was not simply a drink or an inconvenience, it was my daughter's only prepared source of nutrition for our journey. Despite explaining this, I was told there was nothing that could be done, and I had to stand there and watch as the milk was thrown away.

I cannot put into words how upsetting this was. Expressing 25 ounces of breast milk takes an enormous amount of time, dedication and physical effort. It means pumping throughout the day and night, carefully storing every bottle and planning ahead. Every ounce represents hours of work. To have it thrown away in front of me, after explaining exactly how important it was, was absolutely heartbreaking.

What made the situation even worse was the attitude of the officers involved. Throughout the interaction, I felt they showed very little empathy or understanding of how serious this was. I was clearly distressed and repeatedly explained that they were taking away my baby's only food for our journey. Rather than trying to help, showing compassion or explaining whether there were any alternative screening options, my concerns were simply dismissed.

After my daughter's food had been thrown away, I was handed a customer feedback card and sent on my way. It genuinely felt as though nobody cared that an 8-month-old baby had just lost the only food I had prepared for her. The complete lack of compassion shown towards me as a mother was deeply upsetting and made an already distressing situation even worse.

Instead of looking forward to our holiday, I boarded an international flight feeling anxious and devastated, worrying about how I was going to feed my daughter while we were away. No parent should ever be put in that position.

Before travelling, I checked the guidance available to passengers. Ryanair's website clearly states that parents travelling with an infant can bring as much baby milk as needed for the flight, provided it is presented for inspection. I relied on this information when preparing for our journey. At no point was I made aware that frozen expressed breast milk could be refused because it could not be tested, and I was given no alternative option when I reached security.

I do not know the names of the officers involved, but im sure they can be identified through CCTV footage and staff rosters for the security checkpoint.
I want Manchester Airport to provide a full explanation of why my daughter's expressed breast milk was confiscated.
The specific policy or security procedure that required it to be discarded.
An explanation of why no alternative screening method. The time and physical effort it took to express and store it, and the significant distress, anxiety and disruption this caused to both me and my family.im supposed to enjoy my holiday and now im stressed in morroco about how I will feed her. She doesnt latch and only has expressed milk. Besides complaining to the Airport what else can I do so no other family goes through this.

Interesting…..

A lot of people have been going on about compassion and all that but I don't think anyone has explained what that would actually look like. They seem to think that, if they really can't let her take a forbidden substance on board (and they can't), they should somehow ensure she suffers no distress whatsoever in the process. That's not possible, and it's really not their job to coddle and sympathise for ages with everyone who has to chuck something that's prohibited. They have a job to do, a lot of people to process, a lot of planes to protect. If someone has to chuck something, however innocent the mistake, they are just going to have to seek their comfort elsewhere. They're security officers, not counsellors.

Tbh, a person who's a total bleeding heart over this kind of thing would be an appalling candidate for the job. Of course people are going to try to pull their heart strings and we really don't want security officers breaking the safety rules every time they see a pair of doe eyes and a sob story. Those are the rules, they're there for a reason, they apply to everyone and they need to be dispassionate in enforcing them.

I want Manchester Airport to provide a full explanation of why my daughter's expressed breast milk was confiscated.

I was told that because it was frozen, it could not be tested and therefore could not be taken through security.

There is your answer, you wrote it in your post, so you were given an answer. Not sure why you need them to provide a ‘full explanation’ when you’ve already been told why you couldn’t take it

The reason I find the breastfeeding element relevant is because it’s key to her initial stress and upset and likely largely the reason she has reacted in the way that she has.

Also, a number of early posters jumped in with suggestions about just pumping some more and ‘just buy some formula.’ It’s clearly related.

It’s also not a thread about how long people have been members of MN, but hey, when you’ve been around here for a couple of decades, you learn that you can’t control what other people say on a thread.

she does indeed sound as though she was stressed.

and cross, dramatic, indignant and rude

Your probably right its about taking a frozen opaque liquid that could have concealed anything (knife, explosive) etc onto a plane.

And it sounds like she had plenty unfrozen for the flight, but was trying to take extra for the holiday too.

But somehow not surprising

I actually admire the few original posters on here who don’t change names. Or, who still maintain the use of their original names at times. There’s not many of them left. I am not one of them, and I never will be, because I have given away far too many personal details over the years.

I have left and rejoined too, many times, including recently. For example, when we had the Jeff situation. And again when we had the issue with the intern regarding the FWR forums. But, whatever.

Yes you can gate check bags/strollers etc on a lot of airlines...

What security shouldn't do, for I hope obvious reasons, is allow you airside with something that's not allowable in handbaggage/in the aircraft cabin on the promise that you'll check said item into the hold at the gate...

If that's not what you are suggesting then apologies, I've misunderstood.

I think the fact she made a mistake is why she reacted so badly, I mean the only source of nutrition and she didn’t ensure it was available?

I haven’t said anything about how long you’ve been on Mumsnet so I don’t know what your little passive aggressive winky face is directed at.

The OP sounds utterly precious. She does not need all that frozen milk for an 8 month old. She could have brought what she wanted (wanted, not needed) on in the liquid allowance but she didn’t. She doesn’t sound very robust, but that’s not the airlines problem. Hopefully the experience has been character building for her.

I mean no one has asked about the boring practicalities of all this anyway

So you arrive at the airport 2 hours before your flight, you have a 4 hour flight. That doesnt include travel to the airport and then onward travel from the airport to your holiday accommodation

How is the product going to remain frozen?

Because the comment of mine you’d replied to, was to a comment about how long I’ve been around here.

I’m wondering if she was using a cool bag, and that over the time that it then slowly defrosts she’d have been able to make use of it.

I’m not engaging in the comments between you and another poster. I responded that the breastfeeding issue is irrelevant.

Great, and I responded to that too. All good.

I’m sure this thread has indeed been ‘character building’ for her. After her initial post, she responded another three or four times, shortly and politely. I have to say, if I was her, I’d probably never post again, which would be a shame for a mother of a young baby. I hope it doesn’t put her off.

I was assuming some sort of cool bag. But I honestly don't think a cool bag would keep it properly frozen for that long.

Well if you ask AIBU, then you’ll get opinions

She’s a mother of four, only one of which is a young baby.

After three others I assume she’s fairly confident.

I've been wondering this.

No.

Ach she’ll be fine. It’ll do her good to take on board the overwhelming response that she’s being quite precious about it all.

Nope. Not enough time. That’s what the dogs are for.

I would guess your posting is very in keeping with your approach on this thread - combative, dismissive and utterly blind to what the op actually posted. You have said she deserves empathy because stressed.

the Op’s version of “stressed” seems to be to cause drama, be rude, angry, dismissive and defensive. When she didn’t spend the… oh I don’t know, 30 seconds? It would have taken to seen the rule.