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Fruitcake a Threat to National Security?

Aired December 10, 2003 - 15:25   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, now this staple is getting a little bit of different attention. It's kind of taken a sinister tone, I guess. Call it the Trojan horse of baked goods.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: And we warn you, Aunt Milli, for your own good, do not try traveling with your fruitcake. You will end up having to answer to the Department of Homeland Security.

Todd Battis explains.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TODD BATTIS, CTV NEWS REPORTER (voice-over): Potential threats are seized at Canada's airport, at Montreal's Dorval, a sampling, all of this too risky to be carried past security.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We don't take any chances.

BATTIS: While the signs have not been updated, a new item has been added to the banned list.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Strange.

BATTIS: This time of year, you can't escape the fruitcake.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A Christmas cake?

BATTIS: Whatever you call it, it troubles the country's airport security agency.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This, when it is through our machine might represent something that we would need to check, because it is very dense.

BATTIS: It turns out the centuries-old dessert foils the modern X-ray machine. It can't see through the cake. And who knows what could be hidden inside. Well, Sandy Stevens, for one.

SANDY STEVENS, FRUITCAKE BAKER: Butter, lots of brandy, different types of dried fruit.

BATTIS: A fruitcake fan, she's baked dozens and doesn't understand the threat.

STEVENS: I don't see that you would -- you could hit somebody with it. It's a fruitcake. I mean, that's what little grandmas make.

BATTIS: Perhaps. But if she's flying to see the grandkids, the cake has to stay behind or get packed away.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm sorry it's happening, really.

BATTIS: Another sleight for the holiday confection. Once held up as vital Christmas fare, the traditional cake has been the target of ridicule. And while it can no longer wander through airports, it's not known whether it will be banned from the most important Christmas flight of all.

Todd Battis, CTV News, Vancouver.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired December 10, 2003 - 15:25   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, now this staple is getting a little bit of different attention. It's kind of taken a sinister tone, I guess. Call it the Trojan horse of baked goods.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: And we warn you, Aunt Milli, for your own good, do not try traveling with your fruitcake. You will end up having to answer to the Department of Homeland Security.

Todd Battis explains.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TODD BATTIS, CTV NEWS REPORTER (voice-over): Potential threats are seized at Canada's airport, at Montreal's Dorval, a sampling, all of this too risky to be carried past security.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We don't take any chances.

BATTIS: While the signs have not been updated, a new item has been added to the banned list.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Strange.

BATTIS: This time of year, you can't escape the fruitcake.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A Christmas cake?

BATTIS: Whatever you call it, it troubles the country's airport security agency.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This, when it is through our machine might represent something that we would need to check, because it is very dense.

BATTIS: It turns out the centuries-old dessert foils the modern X-ray machine. It can't see through the cake. And who knows what could be hidden inside. Well, Sandy Stevens, for one.

SANDY STEVENS, FRUITCAKE BAKER: Butter, lots of brandy, different types of dried fruit.

BATTIS: A fruitcake fan, she's baked dozens and doesn't understand the threat.

STEVENS: I don't see that you would -- you could hit somebody with it. It's a fruitcake. I mean, that's what little grandmas make.

BATTIS: Perhaps. But if she's flying to see the grandkids, the cake has to stay behind or get packed away.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm sorry it's happening, really.

BATTIS: Another sleight for the holiday confection. Once held up as vital Christmas fare, the traditional cake has been the target of ridicule. And while it can no longer wander through airports, it's not known whether it will be banned from the most important Christmas flight of all.

Todd Battis, CTV News, Vancouver.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com