Mom carrying 22 ounces of breast milk was stopped by TSA — the agent’s question made her pull up the guidelines on the spot
Traveling with breast milk may require dealing with extra steps at airport security, but one mom wasn't expecting the question she got from TSA. Instagram creator Haley, known as @the.alohamama, was flying home from work when an agent questioned her regarding breast milk. In the clip shared on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, she revealed that what happened next led to an unexpected lesson about the guidelines.
Haley explained that she usually travels with about 22 ounces of breast milk. When she reached TSA, she took it out as required and told the officer what it was. But instead of simply checking it, the agent flagged it and asked her, "Well, are you gonna drink it or dump it?" He then told her she couldn't travel with that much liquid. However, Haley wasn't about to throw away the milk she had pumped, as she was prepared for the check with the guidelines in hand. She told the agent, "One, yes, I can. Two, no, I’m not going to drink it or dump it," and explained that she wanted to bring it home with her. The two ended up staring at each other until Haley pulled up the TSA breast milk guidelines on her phone, which left the officer speechless.
Haley wasn't wrong about the rules, either. According to the TSA's official guidelines, breast milk in quantities over 3.4 ounces is allowed in carry-on bags and doesn't have to fit in a quart-sized bag because it is considered a medically necessary liquid. Travelers simply need to tell the TSA officer they are carrying breast milk and remove it for separate screening. The rules also say the child does not have to be traveling with the parent, so Haley was well within the guidelines when she brought her 22 ounces of milk home. It was also noted that formula, toddler or baby food, as well as supplies to cool and maintain these items, can also be carried as per convenience.
By sharing the video, Haley wanted other moms to know they can travel with breast milk and should keep the guidelines handy in case they run into questions at security. She explained that breast milk doesn't have to be frozen, and moms can carry larger amounts without having to drink it or dump it before going through TSA. The moment sparked plenty of reactions from other moms and viewers. @thenashvilledatenight joked, "Drink it or dump it? Tell me you’re new here without telling me you’re new here." @findingbekah asked, "How good did it feel to tell a TSA agent that they’re wrong?" And @vilajlactation wrote, "Insane! All TSA staff should be trained and know this."
You can follow @the.alohamama on Instagram for more breastfeeding tips.
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