Guest guest Posted August 5, 2009 Report Share Posted August 5, 2009 > > A direct quote from a friend: > > Oh, I took the kefir grains to MI for 3 weeks. No problem in the Denver airport but in the MI airport they tested the grains for dangerous substances and told me to never bring them again unless they were in a labeled bottle with only two ounces. > > > Just had to share because it made me laugh out loud. Villainous little things, don't you think? > > Tamsen > Well, we need to understand that they are simply doing their job. People mock them for lack of security standards in small airports, pointing out 9/11 incident(s). Now that a fairly consistent standard is set, it is a fair thing for them to enforce. There have been a few reporters published reports on their own undercover smuggling of banned (or seemingly banned) items from time to time since 2001. Before then, they would most likely be sued for some sort of harrasment, sexual/race discrimination if they wanted someone to take off their shoes. I'm glad the TSA folks are doing their job, even if I'm not too pleased with the numerous things I have to do at airports these days. They don't even allow water, let alone kefir grains, tooth paste or any jell-like substances. I would put the kefir grains in several layers of small plastic bags for checked luggage. Of course keeping spare grains at home in the freezer is also highly recommended. I also give some to friends nearby if they also like kefir. Hopefully, they would be my alternate backup sources should something happen to my grains. Jimmy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 6, 2009 Report Share Posted August 6, 2009 I would think they were looking for drug potential rather than terrorist materials. MI has one of the highest unemployment rates and drugs have moved in to help fill that gap in many former farming and auto communities, sad to say. On a side note, I recently mailed some grains here in the US. At the post office they asked the usual, and since " liquid contents " is one of their questions, I answered yes, a very small bit triple ziplock bagged. When she inquired further and I told her I was mailing kefir grains, and was all set to explain kefir. But the woman immediately said, oh, the fermented milk, right? You put the grains in milk to make the kefir? She was Indian and was surprised a pasty white gal like me knew of such things and I was amazed to find someone local who knew as well LOL. We both had a good laugh at that. So word is spreading.... I also recently gave some grains to a coworker who was excited to make her own. Unfortunately, her cat had other ideas. Said cat is very old and was not thought to be capable anymore of leaping to top of armoire but she did, knocked it all over and ate all the grains, leaving much of the milk. Crazy cat has good taste. , formerly of MI > Oh, I took the kefir grains to MI for 3 weeks. No problem in the Denver > airport but in the MI airport they tested the grains for dangerous substances > and told me to never bring them again unless they were in a labeled bottle > with only two ounces. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 6, 2009 Report Share Posted August 6, 2009 Thanks for the fun response! I should have added that my friend is a grandma type, as am I, and the humor was directed at us, not a put-down of security. It's fun to find people who know what it is. And good to know people are becoming more aware of its benefits. She got her grains from me and half the family is now on the stuff and we love it. Smart people, yes? Fortunately my cats haven't discovered the goodness, though our dog devours any extra grains I may have after putting an offer on Craig's list. Usually they get given away but not always. And sometimes I don't have time. Little by little we'll convert this part of the world -- lol. Tamsen Re: For Fun I would think they were looking for drug potential rather than terrorist materials. MI has one of the highest unemployment rates and drugs have moved in to help fill that gap in many former farming and auto communities, sad to say. On a side note, I recently mailed some grains here in the US. At the post office they asked the usual, and since " liquid contents " is one of their questions, I answered yes, a very small bit triple ziplock bagged. When she inquired further and I told her I was mailing kefir grains, and was all set to explain kefir. But the woman immediately said, oh, the fermented milk, right? You put the grains in milk to make the kefir? She was Indian and was surprised a pasty white gal like me knew of such things and I was amazed to find someone local who knew as well LOL. We both had a good laugh at that. So word is spreading.... I also recently gave some grains to a coworker who was excited to make her own. Unfortunately, her cat had other ideas. Said cat is very old and was not thought to be capable anymore of leaping to top of armoire but she did, knocked it all over and ate all the grains, leaving much of the milk. Crazy cat has good taste. , formerly of MI > Oh, I took the kefir grains to MI for 3 weeks. No problem in the Denver > airport but in the MI airport they tested the grains for dangerous substances > and told me to never bring them again unless they were in a labeled bottle > with only two ounces. ------------------------------------ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 6, 2009 Report Share Posted August 6, 2009 The drug angle might make sense. If anything is suspected of being terrorism-related it is immediately confiscated as I found out when I made the mistake of bringing back some highly suspicious preserves from Canada in my carry on luggage. I actually thought the " for fun " story might be a joke, because I didn't think TSA did onsite testing of any kind? But the drug angle makes sense, especially if the testing agent was a sniffer dog. Except I thought drugs were only looked for on international flights? And by customs, not TSA. If I wanted to take kefir grains on board in my carry on, I'd try to stick them in a 2 ounce bottle, put a label on them, and declare them as medication! A 2 ounce bottle is 1/4 cup, which is not bad for travel for one person. I have taken liquid medications including OTC supplements on board this way, and I have never had anybody so much as look at a label or dispute the legitimacy of any medication. In fact for medications, the bottles can be larger than 2 ounces. You just throw your liquid meds in one of the grey bins. I have done this in Newark airport, which is much stricter than some. I can also say truthfully that my doctor recommended kefir. So it's a medication. If this is too scary, there's always your checked baggage to throw kefir grains into. Nicola, near NYC > > I would think they were looking for drug potential rather than terrorist materials. > >> > , formerly of MI > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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