You might want to take some food or snacks with you on your trip, but then you remember that you have to put your carry-on bag through the airport scanner.
You might wonder whether it is safe for food to pass through radiation and whether you are going to develop some side effects after eating it.
So, is it safe to eat food that went through airport security, and does the X-ray machine have any potential effects?
Airport security scanners do not impose any harm on the food that passes through them. Until now, there have not been any signs of adverse effects from eating food that has been exposed to radiation at airport security. In fact, the radiation dose is known to be quite low.
This article contains the details concerning food that goes through radiation when you pass a security check at the airport.
I will explain in which ways food can be affected, and whether you should be concerned about eating it. In addition, I will discuss what kind of food is allowed on planes, so you know what you can and can’t take with you on your next flight.
Can You Eat Food That Went Through Airport Security?
Some people are significantly concerned about the radiation caused by X-rays, so they do not want to be exposed to it in any way.
On the other hand, there are people who do not think much of this type of thing, so they have never even thought about the effects that radiation can have on objects that go through scanners. However, food is something that you intake in your system, so it is smart that you learn what kind of effect radiation can have on it.
As previously mentioned according to studies and research, the food that has passed through airport security is not known to cause any side effects after eating it.
In other words, it can also be said that the X-rays present in the airport scanners do not impose any harm on the food, so you can freely eat it afterward. Therefore, drinking beverages, eating food, using medicine, and applying cosmetics after being exposed to radiation in airport X-ray machines are considered to be safe.
The dose of radiation caused by the airport security scanners is significantly small, or to be more precise, 1 milliard or less. This means that it cannot affect food in any way, so the chances that you will have any side effects are close to 0%. This fact is actually checked by the FDA, so you can freely eat the food that has passed through that kind of radiation.
In other words, the FDA makes sure that every type of radiation to which people and other objects are exposed is completely safe.
According to FDA and airports’ regulations across the US, each scanner and device that uses X-ray technology is correctly used and maintained, meaning that no harm is caused to people when passing through them. This also refers to food as well, so you have no reason to be alarmed.
Can You Avoid Going Through The Airport Security Scanner?
There are people who are extremely concerned about the potential effects of radiation that is caused by security scanners, therefore, they do not feel comfortable when passing through them.
- The scanners and the X-ray machines used at airports are known to be quite safe, and the potential risks of radiation are considered extremely low. These devices help in detecting dangerous weapons or substances, and they keep people safe at airports.
However, some people get extremely worried about passing through one of these devices, and they cannot feel comfortable in these situations.
If you are one of those people, you can politely explain your situation to the security officers, and ask if they could do a pat-down search, so you can avoid going through the scanner. Nonetheless, you should expect that these kinds of requests might not be allowed at all airports, but it is always worth asking.
Here’s a video that explains 25 commonly asked questions at airport security.
Can You Bring Food Through Airport Security?
As you know, due to safety reasons, airports do not allow taking some things with you, so you need to familiarize yourself with the regulations in order to avoid leaving things behind at the airport.
When it comes to food, you might be faced with different regulations at each airport. Generally, you can bring food with you on the flight as long as it complies with the standards of the airline.
You should expect that airlines have many different standards about this, so you might see some real differences even between domestic and international flights. However, airlines might not be such a problem compared to airport security.
Even if the airline might not have any issues with the food you bring, the airport personnel might ask you to get rid of it if it does not meet the airport’s regulations.
Firstly, you have to remember that if you bring food with you to the airport, you will have to put it in a separate bin for airport security to check.
This way the security officers will have a chance for a closer inspection. You need to take into consideration that this might prolong your time passing through security checks, therefore, if you are in a hurry, this might not be very convenient.
However, there are airports, especially the foreign ones, that do not allow any kinds of food. In that case, you might be asked to get rid of every item from your bag.
In conclusion, it can be said that eating food that went through an airport security scanner is safe, and you do not have any reasons to worry about it. However, if you are still concerned, then not taking any food on your flight would be the smartest solution.
Is It Safe To Put Food Through Airport X Ray Machines
Yes, it is generally safe to put food through airport X-ray machines. The machines used for carry-on and checked baggage screening do not emit harmful levels of radiation that can affect the safety of food items.
