Alyssa Milano says security officials at London Heathrow Airport seized her breast milk early Thursday morning, and she took the airport to task on Twitter.
"@HeathrowAirport just took my pumped breast milk away. 10 ounces. Gone. Not okay," she wrote.
The airport responded soon after, informing the actress she -- and all other travelers -- is limited by the ban on liquids in excess of 100 ml (3.4 ounces). The rule is flexible for those traveling with a baby:
"They said they would let the pumped milk through if I had the baby with me," Milano acknowledged, then asked, rhetorically, "Why would I need to pump if I had the baby with me????"
"Sorry for any confusion caused," Heathrow responded. "To confirm, if you aren't traveling with your baby, milk is subject to the 100ml/(3.4oz) liquid restriction."
Not pacified, Milano pressed her point:
She closed with a longer statement posted via TwitLonger:
I would have happily spread milk in different containers (which I travel with) to comply to those liquid rules. Instead, milk was taken away with no discussion. Shampoo, lotions, etcetera were simply tested and handed back with no issue. Makes no sense at all.
In the U.S., the Transportation Security Administration considers breast milk among the "medically necessary liquids" that are exempt to the 3.4 ounce rule. Travelers are required to declare excess amounts to TSA agents handling security checks, and the milk is typically screened before being returned.
Milano has long been an advocate for breastfeeding mothers, proudly showing her support via photos on her Instagram feed: