Are you going on holiday and do you want to take your supplements with you? Then you are probably wondering whether that is simply allowed on the plane. Because yes, you naturally do not want to just skip your daily omega-3, vitamin D or other supplements for a week. Fortunately, in most cases you do not need to worry. But there are a few things to look out for.
Are you allowed to take supplements on the plane?
The short answer: yes, you are allowed to take supplements on the plane. Both in your hand luggage and in your checked luggage. Supplements fall under medicines and food supplements, and those are simply allowed when flying.
For capsules, tablets and powders, there is actually no special rule. You can simply take them in their original packaging. Do you want them in your hand luggage? Then it is handy to put them in a transparent bag, so that security can check them easily.
Do you have liquid supplements? Then it gets a bit more complicated. The 100 ml rule applies to liquid supplements in your hand luggage. Each bottle may contain a maximum of 100 ml and all bottles together must fit in a transparent, resealable bag of a maximum of 1 liter. Do you have larger bottles? Then they must go in your checked luggage.
Disclaimer
Our information is intended as a general guideline. Rules can differ per airline and country. Always check the current rules of your airline (for example KLM or Ryanair) and the customs of your destination. We obviously do not want you to permanently lose your supplements!
Do supplements stay good while traveling?
Supplements are usually quite sensitive to heat, light and moisture. And during travel, they often come into contact with those. Just think of that warm car on the way to France or Spain. Or what about the luggage hold of the plane (where it can get cold or hot), and do not forget that hot hotel room where the air conditioning is not on yet.
Most supplements will survive a short holiday, but there are a few things to look out for. The type of supplement is very important. Probiotics, for example, are extra sensitive to temperature changes. Omega-3 supplements can become rancid if they get too warm. And vitamin C can lose its effectiveness with too much heat.
What should you look out for?
The most important thing: keep your supplements cool and dry. So do not put them on the dashboard of your car or next to the heater in your hotel room. A cool, dark place is best. A cool box can be a solution, as long as you do not make it too cold.
As an example, Omega-3 supplements are best kept in their original dark packaging. Light and heat are the biggest enemies of omega-3 fatty acids. Have you opened them? Then make sure the jar is tightly closed.
7 tips to keep your supplements in good condition on holiday
But what can you do yourself to keep your supplements in good condition on holiday? There are a number of things you can do.
- Only take what you need: count how many days you will be away and take a few extra supplements just in case. But do not pack your entire stock. That would be a shame if something goes wrong.
- Use the original packaging: leave your supplements in their original jar or blister pack. That prevents confusion and shows exactly what it is. Handy for customs and for yourself.
- Divide between hand luggage and checked luggage: put half in your hand luggage and half in your suitcase. Does luggage get lost? Then you still have supplements for a few days.
- Take a photo of the label: especially useful for foreign travel. Do you have problems at customs? Then you can show exactly what is in it.
- Store them in a cool place: find the coolest spot in your hotel room. Often that is the bathroom (but not in the shower of course!) or a cupboard away from windows and heating.
- Check the expiration date: do not take supplements that are about to expire. Heat and moisture can make them spoil faster.
Taking your omega-3 in your hand luggage: then choose capsules, because a bottle of liquid oil is not allowed. With the risk of a bottle breaking, it is also not advisable to take a bottle in the luggage hold of the plane.
