United States actor Alyssa Milano has taken aim at London's Heathrow Airport for confiscating her pumped breast milk because it was deemed a security risk.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
In a series of tweets, the Melrose Place star admonished the airport for not only seizing the milk but throwing it away.
"They said they would let the pumped milk through if I had the baby with me. Why would I need to pump if I had the baby with me?" she said.
(1 of 2)
@HeathrowAirport just took my pumped breast milk away. 10 ounces. Gone. Not okay. — Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano)
April 9, 2015
(2 of 2) They said they would let the pumped milk through if I had the baby with me. Why would I need to pump if I had the baby with me???? — Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano)
April 9, 2015
Milano had been travelling on a "romantic getaway" with her husband, David Bugliari, and without the kids, she said earlier.
In response to Milano's tweets, Heathrow Airport officials said that without a baby, all carry-on liquids had to conform to the government-mandated limit of 100 millilitres.
@Alyssa_Milano Hi Alyssa. Unfortunately, without a baby present, the government requires all liquids in carry-ons to follow the 100ml rule. — Heathrow Airport (@HeathrowAirport)
April 9, 2015
That did not appear to satisfy Milano, who complained that the milk did not need to be taken away and destroyed.
"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," she wrote.
The 42-year-old actor said her other liquids, such as shampoo, were tested by security officials and "handed back with no issue", and she questioned why this could not be done with the milk bottle.
"[It] makes no sense at all," she said.
@HeathrowAirport Why can you test my toiletries to make sure they are safe but you have to throw away my breast milk? — Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano)
April 9, 2015
The FAQ section of the airport's website advises parents: "If you are travelling with a baby or infant you can carry a reasonable amount outside of your liquid bag for your journey. To assist security screening, please do not carry these items in a flask. If you are not travelling with a baby/infant all your liquids must comply with the 100ml rule. Spare supplies should be packed in hold baggage."
Milano has a seven-month-old daughter, Elizabella Dylan, and has been a proponent of public breastfeeding. The practice is controversial in some quarters, to the point that some may even object to the sight of bottled breast milk. Milano previously spoke to Entertainment Tonight on the issue and said: "It is part of life. It's part of being a woman. It's part of being a mother".
The Charmed star may have had the last laugh, however. She later tweeted that she had, in fact, pumped more milk once safely past the security gates - and took it on board.
PS. Another reason it makes no sense - when I got past security it was time to pump again so ... I did carry on 5 ounces of breast milk. — Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano)
April 9, 2015