Millions of Britons will jet off abroad this summer. Yet many remain unaware that certain foods can be prohibited onboard some airlines or even seized upon entry into Europe.
While easyJet, Ryanair, Jet2 and TUI all permit passengers to bring snacks onboard, restrictions continue to apply to items such as hot food, hot drinks, alcohol, and certain foods. Here's everything you need to know about the latest food and drink rules for easyJet, TUI, Ryanair and Jet2 in 2026. These include a popular snack that cannot be taken on board as well as food restrictions when travelling between the UK and EU, reports Liverpool Echo.
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TUI passengers travelling on long-haul flights of seven hours or more will receive meals and drinks included within their ticket price. On shorter routes, food and drinks are available to purchase from the onboard café.
Passengers may generally bring their own food onboard, however TUI advises that cabin crew are unable to refrigerate or heat food brought from home, with the exception of warming baby bottles where necessary. Passengers are also prohibited from consuming any alcohol they have brought themselves.
easyJet continues to permit passengers to bring food into the cabin. However, liquid or semi-liquid foods such as soup, yoghurt, custard and sauces remain subject to airport security liquid restrictions.
Passengers may also bring hot drinks onboard provided they have been purchased beyond airport security and are carried in a secure, lidded cup. Individual countries may impose their own restrictions on food imports, so travellers are advised to verify the regulations at their destination prior to departure.
Ryanair permits passengers to bring their own food and soft drinks aboard, in line with its longstanding policy.
However, the airline does not permit passengers to board with hot drinks and strictly prohibits the consumption of personal alcohol throughout the flight, including duty-free purchases. Only alcohol served by the airline may be consumed onboard.
Jet2 operates some of the most stringent rules regarding food and drink brought on by passengers.
The airline explicitly states that passengers are not permitted to bring hot food or hot drinks aboard for safety reasons. It also reserves the right to refuse items that may affect the comfort of fellow passengers, including foods with particularly strong odours.
Jet2 passengers are still welcome to bring cold snacks and cold meals, while a selection of food and drinks remains available to purchase throughout the flight.
It is also worth bearing in mind that airline regulations and border control rules are entirely separate matters.
If you are travelling from the UK to the EU, restrictions remain in place on bringing numerous meat and dairy products into EU member states. This can include items such as ham sandwiches, cheese sandwiches, sausages, yoghurt and milk products.
The EU enforces these regulations to safeguard against the spread of serious animal diseases. Specific allowances and exemptions are highly limited. In a similar vein, the UK currently upholds restrictions on specific meat and dairy products being brought into Great Britain from EU nations. As these regulations can be updated in response to animal health concerns, travellers are advised to consult the latest government guidance before setting off.
So, while packing your own snacks for the journey is generally permitted, hot drinks, hot food, personal alcohol and certain meat or dairy products can still present difficulties depending on the airline and your destination.
