– Cupcake Deemed ‘Security Threat,’ Confiscated By TSA (WCVB Boston, Dec. 23, 2011):
BOSTON — A Peabody woman says a cupcake she tried to take on a flight with her sparked a potential security threat this week.
Rebecca Hains says she was going through security at the airport in Las Vegas when a TSA agent pulled her aside and said the cupcake frosting was “gel-like” enough to constitute a security risk.
She said she was able to pass through Logan International Airport security with two cupcakes, but she was stopped on the way back when she tried to return with one of them.
“In general, cakes and pies are allowed in carry-on luggage,” said TSA spokesperson James Fotenos, adding they were looking into why this cupcake was confiscated.
Hains said she had received the cupcakes as a gift and after eating one on the trip out west, decided to save the other for the flight back.
Hains contacted the cupcake company, Wicked Good Cupcakes of Cohasset, which said it will ship her a new batch free of charge.
“Apparently we’re a tasty, terrorist threat. I guess we were also amazed at what can pass through security in one airport, but not in another,” said Brian Vilagie of Wicked Good Cupcakes.