Ellen Pompeo Held by TSA for Bringing Popular Snack Mix in Carry-On

Ellen Pompeo had a surprising run-in with airport security all because of a bag of sunflower seeds. The “Grey’s Anatomy” star revealed TSA detained her for an hour. That’s not all—bomb squad called in before a flight in March.

(Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)

In a conversation with Travel + Leisure, Pompeo said, “I had a bag of sunflower seeds, like organic sunflower seeds from Erewhon, so they were probably the most expensive sunflower seeds money can buy,” “They literally held me for an hour, and they brought the bomb squad in,” she added. “And I was like, what is happening? Is this a joke?”

Here’s Why TSA Called the Bomb Squad

(Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images)

Ellen explained that she offered to toss the unopened snack, but security insisted she wait while it was investigated. “They said it was most likely a chemical on the packaging of these super expensive, fancy, organic, clean sunflower seeds. My protein on the plane!” she said.

“I almost missed the flight. It was really like no one would ever believe this! I was texting my publicist saying, ‘I might not get on this plane, and you’re never gonna guess why.’”

Despite this mini ordeal, the mom of three says she still enjoys traveling—especially with her kids, Stella (15), Sienna (10), and Eli (8), whom she shares with her husband, Chris Ivery.

Ellen on Family, Travel Anxiety, and the Secret to Long-Lasting Marriage

“I love any kind of trip as long as my kids are with me,” Ellen said. “I get a little bit anxious when I travel for work without my kids… I like to hold my kids’ hands when I take off, which is probably a little selfish… but I try to just have a lot of gratitude for that and show them as much as I can.”

Ellen and Chris met in a grocery store in 2003, became friends, and eventually got married in a quiet City Hall ceremony in 2007.

“What’s the secret? We’ve been doing it for a long time. I think the secret is taking the time that we need,” Chris told Us Weekly in 2019. “It’s just sort of supporting each other… She’s my biggest fan. I’m her biggest fan.”

Ellen Pompeo is widely recognized for her longtime role as Dr. Meredith Grey on “Grey’s Anatomy”, which marked its 21st season this May. Earlier this year, she also appeared in the Hulu miniseries “Good American Family”, which premiered in March.

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