My husband is a genius. OK, sometimes he’s not, but today he is. A few months ago he had my precious Marmite confiscated by security as he boarded his Romania-bound flight in Luton, leaving me Marmite-less for another few months. That was an example of him not being a genius. Yesterday, he arrived triumphant with Marmite carried legally through airport security checks in his carry on hand luggage. Want to know how to carry Marmite on airlines? We have the Marmite ( or Vegemite if you’re a weirdo) carrying solution you need.
Everyone knows you can’t take liquids through customs. Is Marmite a liquid? Well, as a scientist I’d say no, it doesn’t change shape to fill the container it’s in unless it’s very warm, but that doesn’t matter to airport security, if they say it’s a liquid, it’s a liquid. That goes for toothpaste too, if you were wondering. I have a lovely post on how to travel carry on only if you’d like more information on how we do that. Mostly we don’t, we like to have all the things we need, but on short trips to single climates with no gear requirements, sure, it’s fine.
So back to the Marmite.
You are allowed to take liquids onto the plane in your carry on or hand luggage, if the volume of a single bottle or container is 100 ml or less and if those bottles or containers are all housed in a single clear plastic bag. Most decent airports give these bags out for free, the bodgy budget ones, like Luton, charge you a pound and often run out.
I’ve used supermarket bought zip lock bags and got away with it, but I don’t know if this is foolproof. Our usual solution is to grab a handful when we’re at an airport that supplies the plastic bags for free.
So how to get the thick, gloopy, almost-solid Marmite in 100 ml containers?
Easy Squeezy Marmite!
My genius husband went out and bought a large container of squeezy Marmite and painstakingly filled 4 100ml plastic bottles with our favourite yeasty spread. That’s better than any Valentine’s card.
Check your bottles are suitable for food use and BPA free if you are concerned about these things. I don’t think the ones intended for cosmetics, are
Well done Chef, I now know why I married you 😉
For Marmite smugglers and fans of the best British food, for Pinterest
Over to you, tell us your confiscation stories or tips and hacks in the comments.
ArcticMarmite
Monday 7th of October 2019
Brilliant! I’m ordering some 100ml bottles today so I can use this trick.. My marmite supplies are running worryingly low here in Iceland. For a while our newly arrived Costco was selling marmite in big tubs, so I thought my troubles were over, but not surprisingly, they only sold a few tubs, so they have stopped stocking it..
Mr David R Carter
Sunday 11th of August 2019
i took 150g vegemite to las vegas but in checked luggage, just for fun end up trading it for a cowboy belt and a holster. wish it was available in 50gram jars, there is a commercial food shop near us that sells it in the breakfast single serve size 4.8grams along with a host of other very Australian items like our bbq sauce. Our Fiji trip we asked for bbq sauce and they just kept giving us HP Steak Sauce.
Alyson Long
Sunday 11th of August 2019
I've never tried Australian BBQ sauce.
Liv
Monday 15th of April 2019
Travelling with 3 young kids for a month means vegimite is a necessity, but today it was confiscated at JFK airport security! I tried the argument that it’s a paste not a liquid but they weren’t budging. Devestated!
Alyson Long
Monday 15th of April 2019
Nice try, but you won't win. Better luck next time!
Shirley Roach
Thursday 25th of October 2018
My English daughter lives in Australia and last time she was over here I bought her probably eight large jars.
She put them all in her suitcase - replacing the space left by gifts she had brought over in the suitcase.
She wasn't stopped in the UK but at Sydney Airport on her way home! I think she talked them out of confiscating them.
Alyson Long
Thursday 25th of October 2018
Yep, Australia really hates you bringing any food substance in. My mum got in trouble for tea bags. Everywhere else not a problem in your hold luggage--- usually. But they sell Marmite in Australia in most big supermarkets. Just don't get it confused with the New Zealand Marmite, they also sell that and it's not the same thing at all, it contains sugar.
Barbara Harby
Tuesday 11th of September 2018
What is the maximum size of Marmite jar that I can take through customs from London to USA?
Alyson Long
Wednesday 12th of September 2018
In your hold luggage I would have thought any size is fine. In hand luggage, check with the airline. Possibly 100 ml.