Monday, Jan. 9, 2012 | 5:23 p.m.
The federal Transportation Security Administration is defending a decision to confiscate a cupcake from a Massachusetts woman flying from Las Vegas, saying the pastry was packed inside a jar filled with icing.
The TSA says in a blog comment posted Monday that icing is considered a gel under a policy designed to secure travelers from terrorists seeking to evade detection by using explosives made of plastics, liquids or gels.
The TSA says Rebecca Hains of Peabody was not allowed to take her cupcake into the plane because the icing in the jar exceeded amounts of gels allowed in carry-on luggage.
The TSA says travelers can bring cakes, pies and cupcakes through the security checkpoint, but should expect that they might get some additional screening.
