Each year, hundreds of jars of pesto are confiscated at airport security checkpoints in the Italian city of Genoa, where the sauce made from basil, pine nuts, cheese, and olive oil is a local specialty.
Apparently, the ban on flying with liquids of more than 3.4 ounces (100 ml) even applies to the most delicious liquids.
Until now.
Thanks to the Genoa airport's new "pesto is good" program (that's "il pesto è buono" in Italian), passengers can now bring jars of pesto with them through security, in exchange for a small donation to Flying Angels, a charitable organization that arranges international flights for sick kids seeking treatment.
You can only bring in one jar up to 500 grams (18 oz) in size or two jars up to 250 grams (9 oz) apiece. You must be flying directly from Genoa and the pesto has to be locally made.
Also, before you can proceed to your gate, your carry-on pesto will need to be separately x-rayed.
