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Watch: TSA harasses mom over breast milk
Footage from February shows mom being detained by the TSA over the screening of her breast milk.
Thu, Dec 02 2010 at 2:00 PM
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Air Travel

Photo taken from video

Check out this YouTube footage of a woman being harassed by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) when she asked for an alternative screening for her breast milk — an alternative screening allowed under TSA guidelines for breast milk and other liquids that qualify as "medical liquids" that should not be exposed to radiation.
 

 

My first reaction when I saw this video was that it was unbelievable. I mean, really, who would harass a woman over her breast milk? Then I realized that it is entirely believable — and incredibly sad. It's impossible to tell without sound how the dialogue went, and it's entirely possible that the woman was rude to the agents. But she had the law on her side, and according to the video, this wasn't her first flight or the first time she had encountered this issue. So if I were in her shoes, I would probably be a little rude and defensive, too.
 
What do you think? Is this video footage an example of TSA screening gone too far, or was this "horse and pony show" justified?

The opinions expressed by MNN Bloggers and those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not reflect the opinions of MNN.com. While we have reviewed their content to make sure it complies with our Terms and Conditions, MNN is not responsible for the accuracy of any of their information.

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Comments: 4
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anonymous
Milk Macine Mom Dec 09 2010 at 4:26 PM
Thankfully, the ONE time I flew with breast milk in bottles I did not have an issue with the TSA. That being said, my husband, a photographer who travels with several large format cameras, film holders, etc. always carries a printed out copy of the TSA rules and regulations, which state that he is entitled to a hand inspection of his film, which is too sensitive to x-ray. It never fails that a TSA employee will demand that he open each and every box and film holder (thus exposing his film), and
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this is when my husband pulls out the print out. Even then he is always met with grumbling and complaining. We've learned to allot extra time for this expected delay each time we travel. It seems to me that the TSA should do a much better job of training their employees before sending them out to work with the public. So for all those mothers out there I would, at a minimum, recommend keeping a print out of the TSA rules with you so you have something to refer to when they try to harass you. They may still harass you, but it's there in writing, so they really cannot disagree with you at that point. What a sad day when we cannot travel with the food necessary to nourish our little ones without rude interference. Stand your ground, mothers! http://milkmachinemom.blogspot.com
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anonymous
twf Dec 04 2010 at 3:39 PM
"Not Representative" by Linda -- but you miss the point with your comment. You're saying that you put your breast milk through the x-ray machine. What this clip is depicting is a woman asking that her milk NOT be put thru the x-ray and that there be an alternate inspection which is available by law. That the TSA would treat this woman this way when there is no basis is absolute cause for concern. She has every right to be upset. She is obviously arguing her case and trying to lean on the law
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in every attempt to speak to the TSA -- not her own opinion. She has the right, by law, to not have her breast milk x-ray'd. So, the real issue here is why the fuss? Is it because this woman complained before? I think that is the crux of this clip. She complained, someone at Phoenix' TSA got the butt of that complaint because she was in the right on another occasion, and now she is being punished because someone else at TSA Phoenix doesn't do his or her job according to the law. I think that the TSA manager, if he still works with the TSA, should be immediately fired. There is no reason for his decisions or behavior other than to intimidate and punish the woman. Additionally, I think the U.S. should be following Israel's lead when it comes to airport security instead of the invasive and unconstitutional path it is on right now.
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anonymous
Bea Dec 03 2010 at 4:25 PM

The sooner, the better.

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anonymous
Linda Dec 03 2010 at 12:32 PM
I travelled many times while I was breastfeeding my twin sons (late 2009 and most of 2010). I never had an issue with TSA. Not once. They were always polite, professional, and efficient. Per the TSA instructions, I always took the breastmilk out of my insulated bag and put it in one of those gray bins. Before sending it through the x-ray machine I would make eye contact with a screener and tell them that I was sending breast milk through. They would meet me on the other side and always ensured
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that I was present when they opened the bottles. As you said, we don't know the whole story about what happened in the video, but it isn't consistent with my experience. Finding a decent place to pump in airports? Now that's a different issue!
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