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.

Yabu as you didn’t follow the rules.

Exclusively expressing breastmilk for an 8 month old, when you have four young kids, seems like a very very hard way to be operating!

Sorry OP I’d be upset too - but it looks like they are the rules.

Also I'm sorry but this:

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.

If you were really that worried about your daughter being fed while you were away, you wouldn't have boarded the flight, but rather gone home.

It reads an awful lot like "I'd rather go on my holidays than make sure my daughter is fed" which I am quite sure isn't true, so I can only assume you're ramping up the hyperbole for the inevitable compo claim.

I think the issue is the attitude of the staff, not the fact they were following the rules. It’s very understandable that someone would assume they could freeze the milk to keep it safe for the baby and I’m sure you’re not the first. Of course staff have to stick to the rules but there are ways to deliver upsetting news that don’t make the situation worse. It doesn’t need to be anything above and beyond, just a kind tone of voice and an apology for needing to take the milk could have helped you feel much calmer and able to problem-solve the situation.

I can imagine dealing with this nonsense day in day out, arguing they need to stick to the rules constantly, that they can’t change the rules because people didn’t check them, does wear thin and kindness also does.

They have absolutely no need to apologise for doing their jobs! Why would you even think they should?

OP, were you not able to breast feed the baby on the breast?

Edited to say Sorry, please ignore this post, I didn't read your original post properly.

Were you not able to read the OP? Baby is unable to latch.

OP, I absolutely understand the devastation of watching all that hard work be thrown away. Exclusively pumping is so much effort and it’s all gone.

However, they really couldn’t change the rules for you. It’s gutting but you know now for any future travel.

You can see in my post that I've already apologised, so no need for your post

Oh - it seems like a pile on to the OP (yet again - this is Mumsnet after all)

I'm not going to join in.

Instead I'm going to say that all common sense has left the world.

What type of explosive or dangerous substance can be frozen first??

I used to work in customer service for a major retailer so I’m very used to people complaining about all kinds of things! But it’s much easier for everybody involved when you approach the job with compassion. It makes your life easier as well as the customer’s.

Didn’t you have any bottles which weren’t frozen, ready for use on the flight? If you were flying Ryanair it’s short haul so wouldn’t have been a long flight.

I understand your distress and frustration but the officers are doing their job to comply with the law. Please don’t attempt to identify them.

I posted mine before you edited yours.

I posted at 6:15 and your edit is at 6:16. You can see that by clicking the edited button on yours.

I get that it takes time and effort to express all that breast milk, so must have been upsetting but this really isn’t Ryan Air or Manchester Security’s fault. Also you don’t need the names of the Security Officers and have no chance of winning here. It was your mistake however at least you will be aware for next time.
I would also try and make your life easier by getting your child weaned. At 8 mths they should be eating more and try formula perhaps? You have other young DC, doesn’t the pumping take up a lot of time and energy?

I'm sorry your baby was hungry however this is on you. It isn't the responsibility of Security staff to come up with a solution either. These aren't the airport or airlines rules but the CAA/GOV rules & they haven't changed in this regard for a long time. They are strict for good reason.
I flew to Australia with my soon to be 20 year old when they were the same age & the milk had to be liquid then as every bottle had to be tasted.

Just because you don't know of any dangerous substances that can be frozen doesn't mean they don't exist.

Frozen liquids can be used to conceal objects as frozen items tend to mess with x-rays and scanners - another reason they're not allowed in hand luggage.

Don’t be ridiculous, they don’t have that risk to stop mothers bringing on frozen breast milk!

Another one like the OP who think rules are flexible.

Sorry you’re upset but they are literally following a government rule. By all means complain about how they handled it though. But do remember those staff’s job is to follow rules to stop terrorism etc - not to be kind or offer amazing customer service

I think they can decide themselves if compassion is required, the OP demanding rule changes is not a tine for compassion, it’s a tine for stating our job is to keep you, your children and everyone safe.

Babies main source of nutrition until age 1 is milk.

If you have the energy I would actually raise it with CASA. Maybe with the help of a breastfeeding support organization. It's bizarre and unclear why frozen breast milk with ice bricks would be more likely to be dangerous than liquid breast milk with bricks. It pretty easily to defrost a small amount to check it.

I'm sorry you've had such a distressing start to your holiday. I would strongly suggest your baby tries formula on the holiday. It's 99.99999% as good as breast milk, not poison. It has been expertly designed to deliver all the nutrition your baby needs.

so you didn’t read or understand the rules on frozen milk , but it’s the airport’s fault 🤷‍♀️

It’s a frozen liquid

X-ray Obscurity: When a liquid freezes, its density changes and it can form shapes that hide what is inside or obstruct the X-ray image.

That’s why! It could hold explosives for example?

Well if there were exceptions for parents then everyone with nefarious intentions would use that to get stuff through. It’s like when people complain kids prams and toys are searched or scanned - yes of course they are as they are ideal places to hide stuff. I’m sure op is upset but she should be upset with herself for not reading the rules. And I say that as someone whose baby was exclusively breast fed although from me as she’s not take a bottle.