Can you take frozen food on a plane? Rules by country

Frozen food on flights in and from Japan

The rule for frozen food comes from the Civil Aviation Bureau's list of restricted items. On international flights its liquids list applies as well.

Frozen food: carry-on and checked baggage in Japan

Where	Allowed?	What applies
In the cabin	Yes, within limits	Yes. Frozen food that is solid is not a liquid, gel or aerosol, but on international flights ice cream, shaved ice and ice are on Japan's liquids list, and ice or coolant packs are excepted only when packed with medicine that has to stay cold. Dry ice used to keep food cold is limited to 2.5kg per person.
In checked baggage	Conditions	Yes. Dry ice packed with the food is limited to 2.5kg per person and must be in a container that lets the carbon dioxide escape.

Narita Airport notes that airlines may set a different dry ice limit or ask for a label.

Frozen food: solid at the checkpoint, kept cold, and entry to Japan

Frozen food raises questions in turn: is it a solid, what keeps it cold, and may it enter Japan.

What the TSA files as frozen food: The TSA's Frozen Food entry is written around meat, seafood, vegetables and other non-liquid food items, permitted in carry-on and checked bags. Its entry for fresh meat and seafood adds that frozen perishables can be packed in dry ice in either kind of bag. Neither entry sets a quantity for the food itself.
Frozen desserts are listed as liquids: Ice cream is not treated as frozen food. Japan's liquids list has an Ice cream row covering ice cream and shaved ice, and the Japanese edition adds ice. The TSA separates them as well: its Ice cream entry carries the 3.4oz/100 ml carry-on limit that its Frozen Food entry does not have.
Dry ice in ANA's wording: ANA's page on restricted baggage accepts dry ice used to cool fresh food and similar items at up to 2.5kg per person, carried on or checked, and refuses dry ice brought for any other purpose. Japan's list of restricted items attaches a condition to the box: it must be a container built to release carbon dioxide gas.
Abroad, the rule is written for the coolant: Hong Kong's CAD, Taiwan's CAA and Australia's CASA put their numbers on the dry ice, not on the frozen goods. Each allows 2.5 kg per person when it is used to pack perishables or fresh food that are not dangerous goods. CASA's general food entry says food is not considered dangerous goods.
Bringing it into Japan: freezing does not clear meat: Japan's Animal Quarantine Service lists the states of meat that are subject to animal quarantine, and frozen is one of them, next to raw, refrigerated and cooked. The agriculture ministry's quarantine feature repeats the point for travellers: frozen meat and vacuum-packed meat are covered along with fresh meat.
Bringing it into Japan: frozen fruit and vegetables: Plant quarantine treats freezing differently. The Plant Protection Station's import FAQ says even a fruit whose import is prohibited can be imported once a plant quarantine officer confirms at inspection that it is frozen. It defines frozen as completely solid from freezing, or at a temperature of -17.8°C or below.

Carry-onChecked bag

Cold spray and instant ice packsCarry-on: conditionsChecked bag: conditions Dry iceCarry-on: conditionsChecked bag: conditions Fresh food, vegetables and fruitCarry-on: yesChecked bag: yes

Frozen food: the rule country by country

Frozen food is not allowed in carry-on in the United Kingdom.

Frozen food: carry-on and checked baggage rules by country

Flying from	Carry-on	Checked bag	What the authority says
JapanCivil Aviation Bureau	With limits	With limits	Frozen food that is solid is not a liquid, gel or aerosol, but on international flights ice cream, shaved ice and ice are on Japan's liquids list, and ice or coolant packs are excepted only when packed with medicine that has to stay cold. Source
United StatesTSA	With limits	Yes	Frozen meat, seafood, vegetables and other non-liquid food are allowed in carry-on and checked bags. Ice or ice packs must be completely frozen at screening; partially melted ice is not permitted. Dry ice: 5.5 pounds, with airline approval. Source
United KingdomUK Government	No	Yes	Frozen items, for example liquid, food or ice packs, cannot usually be carried in hand luggage. There are some exceptions for medicines, dietary requirements, baby food and baby milk. Food can go in hold luggage. Source
South KoreaMOLIT Aviation Security 365	With limits	With limits	Dry ice used to pack and carry perishable goods: up to 2.5kg per person, with airline approval, in checked baggage or carry-on bags. Source
TaiwanCivil Aviation Administration	With limits	With limits	Dry ice for fresh food that is not dangerous goods: up to 2.5 kg per person in hand or checked baggage, with airline approval. The packaging must let the carbon dioxide gas escape. Source
Hong KongCivil Aviation Department	With limits	With limits	Dry ice used to pack perishables that are not dangerous goods: no more than 2.5 kg per person, with airline consent, in carry-on or checked baggage. The package must let carbon dioxide gas escape. Source
AustraliaHome Affairs, CASA	With limits	With limits	Food is not considered dangerous goods and is generally allowed. Dry ice used to pack perishables: up to 2.5 kg (5lb) per passenger in carry-on or checked baggage, with airline approval; the package must permit the release of gas. Source

Each row comes from that authority's own page. Airlines can be stricter, and the screening officer has the final say.

If security in Japan will not let frozen food through

What to do: Move frozen food to the bag you check in before you reach security, within the checked-baggage limits above. Narita Airport states that anything given up at the checkpoint is discarded and cannot be returned.

Frequently asked questions

Can you take frozen food on a plane?

On flights in and from Japan: Yes. Frozen food that is solid is not a liquid, gel or aerosol, but on international flights ice cream, shaved ice and ice are on Japan's liquids list, and ice or coolant packs are excepted only when packed with medicine that has to stay cold. Dry ice used to keep food cold is limited to 2.5kg per person. In checked baggage: Yes. Dry ice packed with the food is limited to 2.5kg per person and must be in a container that lets the carbon dioxide escape.

Does frozen food have to be frozen solid at airport security?

In the United States the cooling has to be. The TSA says ice or ice packs packed with the food must be completely frozen when brought through screening, and are not permitted if they are partially melted with any liquid at the bottom of the container. Its Gel Ice Packs entry makes an exception for medically necessary packs.

How much dry ice can I pack with frozen food?

Up to 2.5 kg per person on flights from Japan. Narita Airport's FAQ gives that figure for dry ice cooling perishable food in carry-on or checked baggage. In the United States the TSA cites an FAA limit of 5.5 pounds, in a vented and marked package, and says airline approval is required.

Can I bring frozen meat or frozen dumplings into Japan?

Not freely. Japan's Animal Quarantine Service says any type of meat is subject to animal quarantine whether raw, refrigerated, frozen or cooked, and gives meat buns as an example of a processed product. The agriculture ministry's feature says most meat products cannot be brought into Japan.

Does the TSA allow frozen food in carry-on bags?

Frozen meat, seafood, vegetables and other non-liquid food are allowed in carry-on and checked bags. Ice or ice packs must be completely frozen at screening; partially melted ice is not permitted. Dry ice: 5.5 pounds, with airline approval.

Can you take frozen food in hand luggage in the UK or Europe?

The United Kingdom: Frozen items, for example liquid, food or ice packs, cannot usually be carried in hand luggage. There are some exceptions for medicines, dietary requirements, baby food and baby milk. Food can go in hold luggage.

Can you put frozen food in checked luggage?

Yes. Dry ice packed with the food is limited to 2.5kg per person and must be in a container that lets the carbon dioxide escape.

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