KLM Flying Dutchman - Slightly OT: Declaring Stroopwafels at US customs

Hello,

I'll be flying to BOS tomorrow and will be bringing five packs of Stroopwafels for my colleagues. I know that they are permissible into the US as they're considered bakery products, but I was wondering about declaration on the customs form.

I'm tempted to err on the safe side and list them as items that remain in the US with a value of $10, but was wondering if anyone had any other regulations in writing maybe?

Thanks!

Hello,

I'll be flying to BOS tomorrow and will be bringing five packs of Stroopwafels for my colleagues. I know that they are permissible into the US as they're considered bakery products, but I was wondering about declaration on the customs form.

I'm tempted to err on the safe side and list them as items that remain in the US with a value of $10, but was wondering if anyone had any other regulations in writing maybe?

Thanks!

I declared them as cookies (that being the closest equivalent I could come up with that would be readily understandable by someone who has never encountered them). I have never heard of any regulation which would deal with them directly other than as a baked good.

I believe there is a question if you are bringing in food, which you should tick "yes".

When passing customs they will ask what you are bringing in. When you tell them that you are bringing in cookies that should be enough not to have to open your bags etcetera (based on my experience).

Gajan

I believe there is a question if you are bringing in food, which you should tick "yes".

When passing customs they will ask what you are bringing in. When you tell them that you are bringing in cookies that should be enough not to have to open your bags etcetera (based on my experience).

Gajan
Yes and no. When I must check food, I write on the form words like chocolate only, cookies only, etc. in hope that this will enable me to not be sent to secondary screening. However, the last few times this has not worked, and just having the food box checked has resulted in delays.

However, this is not to say that you should even consider not declaring any type of food. This can lead to big trouble.

One can buy stroopwafels at the "Traders Joe" in the US. They're made in holland,
reasonable priced, in plastic so still "krokant" and not dried out and you don't have to smuggle them with you into the country.

One can buy stroopwafels at the "Traders Joe" in the US. They're made in holland,
reasonable priced, in plastic so still "krokant" and not dried out and you don't have to smuggle them with you into the country.

I don't declare nonsense like this.

One can buy stroopwafels at the "Traders Joe" in the US. They're made in holland,
reasonable priced, in plastic so still "krokant" and not dried out and you don't have to smuggle them with you into the country.

You should use the word 'carry'. There is no reference to smuggling anywhere in this thread, as it is perfectly legal for the OP or anyone else to bring Stroopwafels into the country.

You should use the word 'carry'. There is no reference to smuggling anywhere in this thread, as it is perfectly legal for the OP or anyone else to bring Stroopwafels into the country.
Careful. Bringing food into the USA is legal only if it is declared on the form, but if you do declare the waffles, they are certainly allowed.

Careful. Bringing food into the USA is legal only if it is declared on the form, but if you do declare the waffles, they are certainly allowed.

It may be pedantic, but I would argue the stroopwafels remain legal, it is the failure to declare which is the violation.

I have declared them as "cookies" and ticked the food box on the customs form previously and then got told off by the customs guy saying that cookies are not a food item and in the future there wasn't a need for me to tick the box.

I have declared them as "cookies" and ticked the food box on the customs form previously and then got told off by the customs guy saying that cookies are not a food item and in the future there wasn't a need for me to tick the box.

Cookies are not food:confused:?

Referring to Border Security Australia (which is aired on Dutch TV), I am not sure they would agree :p

Wooha it's the other way around in Australia indeed! They are rigorous.

I'm familiar with the show (I'm a Dutchman in disguise) but yes, last time I took stroopwafels to the US I got told off for declaring them food. :D

Perhaps the Aussies may also not consider Stroopwafels to be food...particularly given this particular story from a couple of years ago (http://blogs.news.com.au/heraldsun/andrewbolt/index.php/heraldsun/comments/save_our_soldiers/P20/)!

(Apologies - I like Dutch food)

They couldn't care less about stroopwafels and other baked goods no matter what you put on your form so why waste their time?

They couldn't care less about stroopwafels and other baked goods no matter what you put on your form so why waste their time?

Exactly!

They couldn't care less about stroopwafels and other baked goods no matter what you put on your form so why waste their time?

Exactly!

I think the point here is, what is the definition of "food". Last time I checked, this is everything meant for consumption.

I thought the whole idea of the form is that the person declares what he has and the agent determines the risk factor and not having people fill in the form based on the chance if the agent will share his/her opinion.

http://206.241.31.147/ImageCache/cgov/content/travel/pleasure_5fvacation/sample_5fdeclaration_5fform_5f_2ectt/v3/image/1/sample.jpg

I think the point here is, what is the definition of "food". Last time I checked, this is everything meant for consumption.

I thought the whole idea of the form is that the person declares what he has and the agent determines the risk factor and not having people fill in the form based on the chance if the agent will share his/her opinion.

http://206.241.31.147/ImageCache/cgov/content/travel/pleasure_5fvacation/sample_5fdeclaration_5fform_5f_2ectt/v3/image/1/sample.jpg

Here is how it works: If you declare nonsense like packaged cookies from Holland as food and make them go through the whole food inspection procedure, they might actually think you are using that as a decoy to hide other stuff.

Best not to rouse customs.

For what it's worth, I have ticked the box and the CBP agent asked what kind of food it was, so I said "cookies". He then wrote "CANDY" on the form and circled it. No-one asked any further questions or inspected my luggage.

Last time I entered the US with liquorice, I did not tick the food box, but did declare them on the back of the form as candy.

No-one blinked.

Cheers,

GenevaFlyer

PS = I think that that's the reason that the Global Entry has actually become more specific. I was planning to memorize it on entry at ORD on Monday, but all kiosks were out.

Cookies are not food:confused:?

Free after Finding Nemo and quoting Sesame street's cookie monster in rehab:

Cookies are Friends, not food!

Seriously, someone should strike the Slightly in the topic of this thread or move it to an appropriate forum

With all the options available in the US now (http://www.ripvanwafels.com/ comes to mind as one I have used and enjoyed) there's probably no need to worry about whether or not stroopwafels should be considered food on the customs form.

To make it a little bit more on topic, one of KLM's 'Wereldveroveraars' is busy starting his stroopwafelbusiness with his company 'EatDutchWaffles' in the US. His stroopwafels are also on sale with the Duty Free onboard KLM flights. :)

On my trip earlier this month I did not declare any food on the form. The inspector asked me if I was carrying any food products - I mentioned the stroopwafels and he just nodded and sent me on my way.

To that end it appears that the US definition of food product is not as all encompassing as those for Australia.