Traveling with gummy vitamins - do they melt? TSA rules?
Hey everyone, I'm a medical student about to head out on a road trip and then a flight for a conference. I take daily gummy vitamins (multivitamin + vitamin D). Has anyone traveled with these before? My main concerns: 1) Do they melt in a hot car during a road trip? 2) What are TSA rules for these - do they count as liquids? 3) Any storage tips to keep them from getting gross? Thanks!
Digital nomad here - I've carried gummy vitamins across 15+ countries! TSA doesn't care about them at all - they're solid food, not liquids/gels. Just keep them in your carry-on. For heat: YES they can melt into a sticky blob. On a road trip last summer in Arizona, mine fused together in the glovebox. Pro tip: Use a small insulated lunch bag with an ice pack if you'll be in hot temps, or at least keep them in the coolest part of your car (not trunk!).
Early adopter of all things gummy here :) I've tested like 8 brands while traveling. Some hold up better than others - the ones with more pectin seem less melt-prone. For flights, I put them in a clear ziplock with my other supplements (TSA has never questioned it). Road trip hack: I use a thermos with a cold pack inside my backpack. Also, if they do get slightly soft, popping them in a hotel fridge for 30 mins usually fixes it!
Thanks both! @RhinoRich254 good call on the insulated bag - I'll grab one for the road portion. @IndigoIris381 interesting about pectin content, I'll check my label. Follow-up: What about hiking? If I'm doing a day hike with vitamins in my backpack, same melting risk? And has anyone had issues with international flights? (My conference is in Canada)
Canada's fine - same rules as US TSA basically. For hiking: Definitely melting risk if direct sun on your pack. I keep mine in a small metal tin (like an altoids tin) wrapped in a bandana - provides some insulation. Worst case scenario: If they melt completely, you can still eat them as a vitamin paste (not appetizing but effective lol). Also, consider switching to capsules just for travel days if you're really worried!