Alyssa Milano says security officials at London Heathrow Airport seized her breast milk early Thursday morning, and she took the airport to task on Twitter.
“@HeathrowAirport just took my pumped breast milk away. 10 ounces. Gone. Not okay,” she wrote.
The airport responded soon after, informing the actress she — and all other travelers — is limited by the ban on liquids in excess of 100 ml (3.4 ounces). The rule is flexible for those traveling with a baby:
@Alyssa_Milano Hi Alyssa. Unfortunately, without a baby present, the government requires all liquids in carry-ons to follow the 100ml rule.
— Heathrow Airport (@HeathrowAirport) April 9, 2015
“They said they would let the pumped milk through if I had the baby with me,” Milano acknowledged, then asked, rhetorically, “Why would I need to pump if I had the baby with me????”
“Sorry for any confusion caused,” Heathrow responded. “To confirm, if you aren’t traveling with your baby, milk is subject to the 100ml/(3.4oz) liquid restriction.”
Not pacified, Milano pressed her point:
.@HeathrowAirport I was told I would be fine if the baby was with me. Plus, it was less than 5 ounces per container. Why is my shampoo okay?
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) April 9, 2015
.@HeathrowAirport Why can you test my toiletries to make sure they are safe but you have to throw away my breast milk?
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) April 9, 2015
She closed with a longer statement posted via TwitLonger:
I would have happily spread milk in different containers (which I travel with) to comply to those liquid rules. Instead, milk was taken away with no discussion. Shampoo, lotions, etcetera were simply tested and handed back with no issue. Makes no sense at all.
In the U.S., the Transportation Security Administration considers breast milk among the “medically necessary liquids” that are exempt to the 3.4 ounce rule. Travelers are required to declare excess amounts to TSA agents handling security checks, and the milk is typically screened before being returned.
Milano has long been an advocate for breastfeeding mothers, proudly showing her support via photos on her Instagram feed:
Make-up, hair in rollers, breastfeeding and being prepped by our producer for #TheTalk.
A photo posted by Alyssa Milano (@milano_alyssa) on Mar 5, 2015 at 10:15am PST
A photo posted by Alyssa Milano (@milano_alyssa) on Nov 7, 2014 at 1:04pm PST
– This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.
