Travel experts warn new viral açaí bowl travel hack could be a recipe for disaster
Açaí bowls are the trending food, with over 1.4 million Google searches in the past month, a 31% increase in the past three months. Now, the craze has even led to some daring passengers attempting to sneak them through airport security. A viral TikTok sparked an online debate among its one million viewers, after a passenger shared a so-called “travel hack”: Freezing her açaí bowl so that it would no longer be considered a liquid, to pass it through airport security.
Viewers were left questioning the legality of this, commenting “Wait, how did you get this through security?”, and another added “Pretty sure this is still considered a liquid”.
However, the flying experts at Netflights warn that this is no “travel hack” at all. They’re urging travellers to avoid freezing their liquids in an attempt to bypass security regulations, warning it could lead to an unpleasant experience at airport security and even fines.
Does freezing a liquid let you bypass airport security rules?
Amanda Parker, at Netflights, comments, “According to official government guidelines, you’re not allowed to carry frozen items in your hand luggage. Even though this acai bowl is frozen, it’s still considered a liquid and security will treat it as a liquid. Your treat may start to thaw when you pass through airport security, and if it exceeds the 100 ml liquid limit, it’ll be going straight in the bin. Plus, the spillage while you carry it, not worth the hassle.”
Which foods are prohibited from being brought back into the UK?
Amanda Parker, at Netflights, comments, “There are restrictions on bringing food back to the UK too. Meat, dairy, fish, fruit, veg, nuts and seeds are all no-nos. You could face a £5,000 fine if you break these rules. As açaí bowls are normally topped with nuts and seeds, plus they’re dairy, it’s important not to freeze your açaí bowl for your flight home to the UK, as you could pay the price.”
Travel experts advise not to freeze your favourite food
Instead of going to the hassle of freezing your food, travel experts from Netflights have revealed their top tips for when it comes to eating when travelling.
- Relax and enjoy a meal at the airport: Travelling can be stressful, so you want to avoid the added worry of getting your food through security. Calmly passing through security and enjoying a meal in the airport is best practice for an enjoyable holiday. Airports have a wide range of restaurants and cafes, so there is plenty of choice for travellers, and some may even offer açaí bowls!
- Pack dry food in your carry-on: If you still want to bring your own snacks on the flight with you, you are generally allowed to bring dry food in your hand luggage. Dry snack bars, crisps and sweets are ideal when flying, but not to worry if you forget to pack these, as the plane will offer a range of snacks and meals when flying!
- Experience food in a new culture: Research your destination before flying to see what’s available to buy when you land. Food tourism is a huge trend, with over 64 million TikTok posts for ‘food tour’. So it’s great to experience a new culture, and tuck into viral restaurants, or try a new cuisine. Your destination may have a viral açaí bowl shop to try!
A glass half-full kind of a girl and a believer that everything happens for a reason, Tatiana works in Media Relations. She loves writing, spotting inspiring stories, and building meaningful relationships.
