Sunflower Seeds Soar, Bomb Squad Dives: Ellen Pompeo's Fancy Snack Triggers Airport Panic
Bomb Squad Called to Ellen Pompey's Snack Scene
In a hilarious turn of events, the "Grey's Anatomy" star Ellen Pompeo found herself in the midst of a security ordeal - all thanks to her choice of a high-end snack. Pompeo shared her unforgettable airport episode with "Travel & Leisure," revealing how a bag of organic sunflower seeds from Erewhon nearly derailed her travel plans.
During a routine security check, the actress's carry-on caused quite a stir. Who'd have thought that a simple bag of sunflower seeds could provoke such a reaction from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA)? "I had a bag of overpriced, fancier-than-thou, clean sunflower seeds, and it set the alarm off," Pompeo recounted.
Puzzled, she asked the officers if they were pulling her leg. However, it turned out that the chemical coating on the packaging of these premium seeds was the culprit. Designed to maintain freshness, this coating had an unexpected side effect: triggering the TSA's security alarms. Despite Pompeo's eagerness to move things along by tossing the bag, the TSA wasn't having it. They brought in the big guns - the bomb squad - to give the unopened bag a green light before allowing her to continue.
"I was stranded for an hour, and even the bomb squad had to pay a visit," Pompeo joked. "I almost missed my flight, and no one would have believed me if I blamed it on sunflower seeds!"
Despite this, the accomplished actress still cherishes her globetrotting adventures. However, she confesses to a touch of aviophobia - a fear of flying. Easing her fears while in flight are her three children, Stella Luna (15), Sienna May (10), and Eli Christopher (8), whom she shares with her spouse Chris Ivery. "I like to cling to my kids' hands as we take off, which, let's be honest, probably doesn't help alleviate their thoughts of me as a nervous wreck," she admitted.
In addition to her flying jitters, Pompeo seems to maintain extreme vigilance against germs. During her flights, she sticks to a strict hygiene routine, emulating the methods of supermodel Naomi Campbell. "I gotta whip out the disinfectant and give that plane seat a solid wipe-down," she shared. Stocking her carry-on with water, hand sanitizer, and baby wipes helps her tackle the fight against airborne germs, even though those fancy seeds won't make an appearance again.
The European Parliament, in light of Ellen Pompeo's airport incident, might find it intriguing to discuss the role of lifestyle choices in travel, such as the snack selection of celebrities, during their deliberations. Despite her fear of flying, Pompeo maintains a lavish lifestyle, often involving travel and entertainment, which led to a remarkably bizarre encounter with the TSA over a bag of organic sunflower seeds.
