Yes, solid food is allowed through Heathrow security in any quantity, in both hand luggage and your pockets: a sandwich, crisps, chocolate bars, fruit and most snacks aren't classed as liquids, so there's no 100ml or 2-litre limit on them. The rule that does apply is Heathrow's 2-litre liquids limit, in force since the airport finished installing CT scanners across all four terminals on 23 January 2026, and it catches foods that count as "liquid" for security purposes, such as soup, yoghurt and purées, not solid snacks. Checked November 2026.
What actually counts as a liquid at Heathrow
Heathrow's own security guidance gives a clear checklist, and it isn't always what you'd expect. Classed as a liquid, and so limited to 2 litres per container:
- Drinks, soup and yoghurt
- Pastes and puréed food
- Formula milk (breast milk has a separate exemption, below)
- Shaving foam, toothpaste, roll-on deodorant
- Creams, gels, sprays and atomisers
Not classed as a liquid, and so allowed through in any quantity:
- Solid food: sandwiches, crisps, biscuits, chocolate, fruit, bread
- Solid lipstick
- Stick deodorant
If you're unsure whether something you're packing counts, Heathrow's own test is whether it would pour, spread or be sprayed. A soft cheese or a jar of jam behaves like a liquid for this purpose and falls under the 2-litre rule, while a packet of crackers doesn't.
The 2-litre liquids rule, in brief
Since Heathrow completed its £1bn security scanner upgrade in January 2026, passengers can carry liquids, aerosols and gels in containers up to 2 litres each, with no cap on the total number of containers and no need for a clear plastic bag. You also don't need to take liquids or laptops out of your bag at the scanner, which is the main reason security moves faster than it used to. This is a big change from the old 100ml rule, and it only applies at airports that have finished their own CT scanner rollout, so don't assume the same limit applies if you're connecting through or returning via an airport that hasn't upgraded. Our full hand luggage and liquids guide covers the wider bag-size rules alongside this one.
Can you bring a packed lunch through Heathrow security?
Yes. A sandwich, a box of pasta salad, crisps, fruit and a chocolate bar all go through as solid food with no quantity limit. The only thing to watch is anything wet or saucy enough to count as a liquid under the checklist above, such as a tub of soup, a pot of yoghurt, or a particularly runny dip; keep those under 2 litres per container, the same as any other liquid.
Can you bring food through security to eat on the plane?
Yes, solid food travels through security and onto the aircraft without restriction, so there's no need to buy an expensive airport sandwich if you'd rather bring your own. Airlines occasionally have their own policies about food brought from outside being eaten on board, particularly on some long-haul carriers, but that's an airline rule, not a Heathrow security one.
Baby food, formula and breast milk
Baby food and formula milk are treated as liquids under the current rules, so they're capped at 2 litres per container, the same limit as any other liquid. Breast milk has its own, more generous exemption: it can be carried in a clear, transparent container or commercially available storage bag, in quantities up to 2 litres, even when travelling without the infant, provided it's in liquid form rather than frozen. If you'd rather not carry formula milk through security at all, Heathrow's Reserve and Collect service lets you pre-order follow-on or formula milk and pick it up once you're through, landside restrictions no longer applying.
Duty-free food and drink bought after security
If you buy food or drink after you've gone through security, airside, it travels with you as hand baggage with no extra restriction, whatever the quantity, because it's been through the same screening point the rest of the terminal has. The one exception is liquids bought at duty-free specifically for taking onto a connecting flight at another airport: those need to stay sealed in the tamper-evident bag with your receipt inside, exactly as handed to you at the till.
Quick reference: food and security at Heathrow
| Item | Rule |
|---|---|
| Sandwiches, snacks, solid food | No limit, not classed as a liquid |
| Soup, yoghurt, purées, dips | Liquid rule applies, 2 litres per container |
| Formula/baby milk | Liquid rule applies, 2 litres per container |
| Breast milk | Up to 2 litres, clear container, liquid (not frozen) |
| Food/drink bought airside after security | No extra restriction |
| Duty-free liquids for a connecting flight | Must stay sealed with receipt in the tamper-evident bag |
What about alcohol and other restricted items?
Alcohol follows its own rules depending on strength and whether it's bought before or after security; see our guide to bringing alcohol through Heathrow security for the detail. Sharp items get their own exemptions too: scissors and nail files with blades up to 6cm, and knitting needles, are allowed in hand luggage, which surprises some travellers packing a picnic with cutlery alongside their food.