Can I take soft cheese on a plane?

Can I take soft cheese on a plane internationally?

Soft and spreadable cheeses (brie, camembert, ricotta, cream cheese, mascarpone, burrata) are treated as liquids — 100ml in cabin, any size in checked. Hard cheeses (cheddar, parmesan, gouda) are solids and unrestricted.

Last updated May 27, 2026 · Reviewed against current airport security guidance

Short answer

General guidance

Rule basis: General airport security guidance — rules can vary between airports and change over time. Confirm with your departure airport before you fly.

What to do: Pack to 100ml per container in a single 1-litre clear bag unless you've confirmed a larger allowance at both your departure airports.

Liquid Limits is a travel planning tool, not an official aviation source. Always confirm with the airport before you travel.

At a glance

Security · Airline · Border

Security

Will this pass the checkpoint?

Check rules

Rules vary by airport — some still enforce 100ml, others now allow 2L containers in CT scanners.

Source: Airport operator pages

Airline

Can this travel in cabin or checked baggage?

Cabin OK

Most airlines defer to airport security on liquids in the cabin.

Border

Can you bring this into the destination country?

Usually OK

Liquids themselves are rarely a customs issue — but contents (alcohol, dairy, CBD) might be.

Three separate rule systems · Any one can stop your item

Quick answer

Soft cheese: 100ml in cabin, unlimited in checked. Hard cheese: no security limit.

If it can be spread with a knife, security treats it as a liquid. If you have to shave or grate it, it's solid.

Cabin vs checked

Type	Cabin	Checked
Brie / camembert wheel	No (spreadable)	Yes
Cream cheese tub	100ml only	Yes
Burrata / mozzarella in liquid	No	Yes
Hard cheddar / parmesan	Yes, unlimited	Yes
Feta in brine	Liquid — 100ml only	Yes

Customs by country

EU→EU: no limit. EU/UK→US: most cheese is allowed (no raw-milk soft cheese aged under 60 days). US→EU: declare it. Australia, NZ: very strict — declare and expect confiscation of soft cheeses. UK from outside EU: 2kg personal allowance.

Packing tips

Vacuum-pack soft cheese before flying
Use freezer blocks (declared) for long journeys
Keep receipts to prove personal use
Hard cheese travels brilliantly — slice and vacuum-pack

FAQs

Is brie a liquid?

At room temperature it's spreadable, so yes — 100ml cabin limit.

Can I take cheese to the US?

Hard cheese yes; soft cheese yes if pasteurised. Raw-milk soft cheese under 60 days old is banned.

What about cheese in a sandwich?

Sandwich is a solid — no problem at security.

Check your trip