Ellen Pompeo recalled being stopped by TSA and the bomb squad over a pricey item she was carrying with her before boarding a flight.
The 55-year-old Grey’s Anatomy star — who garnered backlash over her salary on the hit medical drama series — opened up about the incident during a recent interview with Travel + Leisure.
The actress had been going through airport security a few months earlier in March when she was suddenly flagged for an ‘expensive’ snack: a bag of sunflower seeds from Erewhon.
‘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,’ Pompeo told the outlet.
‘They literally held me for an hour, and they brought the bomb squad in. And I was like, what is happening? Is this a joke?’
Ellen explained she had been informed it was ‘likely’ due to ‘a chemical on the packaging of these super expensive, fancy, organic, clean sunflower seeds. My protein on the plane!’

Ellen Pompeo, 55, recalled being stopped by TSA and the bomb squad over a pricy item she was carrying with her before boarding a flight; seen in May in West Hollywood
Because she had been detained for one hour, the star added how she had ‘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.”‘
While also talking with the publication, Pompeo got candid about her anxiety when it comes to flying.
‘I like to hold my kids’ hands when I take off, which is probably a little selfish, and they’re probably feeling my anxiety, which probably isn’t the best thing to do,’ she stated.