TSA Advises World Cup Visitors to Pack Ranch Dressing in Checked Bags

International tourists attending the World Cup have taken a strong liking to ranch dressing, prompting the TSA to issue packing guidance on social media. Cnn reported that the agency posted on Instagram last week noting that carry-on bags were not designed for multiple 16-ounce bottles and advising visitors to place ranch in checked luggage instead.

The posts followed observations of European travelers attempting to bring the dressing home.

Ranch dressing, made primarily from buttermilk, vegetable oil and spices, ranks as the top salad dressing in the United States. Cnn reported sales reached about $1.5 billion in the past year. The sauce originated in the 1950s when an Alaska plumber developed it for coworker meals before Clorox acquired the Hidden Valley brand in 1972 and introduced the bottled version.

The U.S. government projects up to 10 million international visitors will attend matches scheduled from Los Angeles to Boston. Cnn reported that the TSA has specifically noted many European travelers trying to transport ranch dressing.

A Pew Research Center survey released this week found 57 percent of respondents in 36 countries held unfavorable views of the United States. Hidden Valley vice president of marketing Stacy Stokes told Cnn that fan interest developed organically. The company plans to distribute seasoning mix packets in host cities in July and received around 6,000 applicants for a March influencer job listing aimed at Europe.

Hidden Valley currently sells only in the United States and Canada. Kraft-Heinz chief marketing officer Todd Kaplan told Cnn that the company will introduce a TSA-compliant ranch product. Kaplan said early indications point to a modest sales increase tied to tourist interest.