Cupcake Deemed 'Security Threat' Confiscated by TSA at Las Vegas Airport
Published December 24, 2011 | NewsCore
advertisement
A sweet treat or a weapon of mass destruction?
A Massachusetts woman says a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agent confiscated her cupcake because its "gel-like" frosting could have been an explosive.
Rebecca Hains, or Peabody, told WHDH-TV that she had traveled from Boston's Logan International Airport to Las Vegas with two red velvet cupcakes packaged in jars.
"And actually, the TSA agent who saw them, picked them up and said 'these look delicious,' and sent me on my way," Hains said.
While in Nevada Hains ate one of the cupcakes, which had been given to her as a gift, and saved one for her return trip.
But after arriving at McCarran International Airport on Wednesday, Hains was stopped by a TSA agent who said the frosting and glass container were a security threat.
"He explained to me that the frosting constitutes a gel-like substance and part of the way that he had arrived at this decision apparently was that it was in a container in which it conformed to the container's shape," Hains said.
"I offered to take it out and put it in a zip-lock bag on the spot and he said 'no I can't let you touch it.'
"So once he had identified it as a security threat it was no longer mine and I couldn't have it back."
The TSA said baked goods are usually OK to take through security and it was reviewing the incident.
The store where the cupcake was purchased has also offered to send Hains a replacement cupcake.
Print*** Close
URL
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/12/2...reat-confiscated-by-tsa-at-las-vegas-airport/
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/12/2...-tsa-at-las-vegas-airport/print#ixzz1hUSc9eQP
Published December 24, 2011 | NewsCore
advertisement
A sweet treat or a weapon of mass destruction?
A Massachusetts woman says a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agent confiscated her cupcake because its "gel-like" frosting could have been an explosive.
Rebecca Hains, or Peabody, told WHDH-TV that she had traveled from Boston's Logan International Airport to Las Vegas with two red velvet cupcakes packaged in jars.
"And actually, the TSA agent who saw them, picked them up and said 'these look delicious,' and sent me on my way," Hains said.
While in Nevada Hains ate one of the cupcakes, which had been given to her as a gift, and saved one for her return trip.
But after arriving at McCarran International Airport on Wednesday, Hains was stopped by a TSA agent who said the frosting and glass container were a security threat.
"He explained to me that the frosting constitutes a gel-like substance and part of the way that he had arrived at this decision apparently was that it was in a container in which it conformed to the container's shape," Hains said.
"I offered to take it out and put it in a zip-lock bag on the spot and he said 'no I can't let you touch it.'
"So once he had identified it as a security threat it was no longer mine and I couldn't have it back."
The TSA said baked goods are usually OK to take through security and it was reviewing the incident.
The store where the cupcake was purchased has also offered to send Hains a replacement cupcake.
Print*** Close
URL
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/12/2...reat-confiscated-by-tsa-at-las-vegas-airport/
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/12/2...-tsa-at-las-vegas-airport/print#ixzz1hUSc9eQP
