What kind of food can you bring into the US?
May 5, 2010, 1:45 pm
#46
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: USA
Programs: UA/CO(1K-PLT), AA(PLT), QR, EK, Marriott(PLT), Hilton(DMND)
Posts: 9,538
Precisely. You can enter with suitcases filled with chocolates, sweet meats, bottled pickles, etc, but if you have a pressing need to bring back Mum's home cooked Nihari, Kofta curry, achaar or paratha's, or even certain herbs and plants that only grow only in say the Indian sub-continent, you are going to have to use the process outlined earlier in this thread.
May 6, 2010, 6:24 am
#47
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Southeast USA
Programs: various
Posts: 6,710
Well since i'm already in Italy i have instant access to original and probably cheaper products. I'm also going to meet some friends in the Canada and was trying to think about some gifts, and it came to my mind what's better than a yummy parma smoked ham?
Plus haven't you ever been to a place and liked the local food so much that you decided to bring some home? It always happen to me when i go in Asia.
It's sad that i can't bring any food in. Although US border is less strict than the Australian authorities, a lot of items are still prohibited.
Plus haven't you ever been to a place and liked the local food so much that you decided to bring some home? It always happen to me when i go in Asia.
It's sad that i can't bring any food in. Although US border is less strict than the Australian authorities, a lot of items are still prohibited.
Jul 28, 2010, 11:03 pm
#49
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 35
Bringing food into the USA
Hi,
Hopefully I have chosen the correct forum, I am off to the states (SFO specifically) in just over a week and I have been thinking of bringing some Kiwi treats over with me which I know that my American cousins love.
The thing is they are called Twisties (Click Twisties to see the product to get an understanding) and they are made from a cheese byproduct or at least a cheese flavoring (they are sealed etc just like normal potato chips) but I was wondering as it has cheese in it which was restricted on the USA import list thing I saw if I can actually take it with me.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Hopefully I have chosen the correct forum, I am off to the states (SFO specifically) in just over a week and I have been thinking of bringing some Kiwi treats over with me which I know that my American cousins love.
The thing is they are called Twisties (Click Twisties to see the product to get an understanding) and they are made from a cheese byproduct or at least a cheese flavoring (they are sealed etc just like normal potato chips) but I was wondering as it has cheese in it which was restricted on the USA import list thing I saw if I can actually take it with me.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Jul 28, 2010, 11:08 pm
#50
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2002
Location: NYC, USA
Programs: AA EXP 3MM, Lifetime Platinum, Marriott Titanium, HH Gold
Posts: 10,967
You MUST declare ALL food items. If you enter the country with anything that can be consumed as food, you MUST check "Yes" on your declaration form and be ready to explain and/or show the items to the CBP officers. When I went in for my NEXUS interview, the CBP officer was adamant and stern about it. You don't want to get caught with undeclared items, even if those items would be permitted entry if you had declared them properly.
That said, what you describe--snack items, processed/packaged foods, crackers, etc.--are generally permitted. Again, as long as you declare properly.
Cheese is not a restricted item for the USA as long as it's pasteurized, processed, etc. (home-made goat cheese and some other soft cheeses would be prohibited, though)
Lots of good information here (PDF warning).
That said, what you describe--snack items, processed/packaged foods, crackers, etc.--are generally permitted. Again, as long as you declare properly.
Cheese is not a restricted item for the USA as long as it's pasteurized, processed, etc. (home-made goat cheese and some other soft cheeses would be prohibited, though)
Lots of good information here (PDF warning).
Last edited by ESpen36; Jul 28, 2010 at 11:16 pm
Jul 29, 2010, 1:02 am
#53
Join Date: Sep 2009
Programs: UA PS - DL FO & .4MM
Posts: 74
You MUST declare ALL food items. If you enter the country with anything that can be consumed as food, you MUST check "Yes" on your declaration form and be ready to explain and/or show the items to the CBP officers. When I went in for my NEXUS interview, the CBP officer was adamant and stern about it. You don't want to get caught with undeclared items, even if those items would be permitted entry if you had declared them properly.
That said, what you describe--snack items, processed/packaged foods, crackers, etc.--are generally permitted. Again, as long as you declare properly.
Cheese is not a restricted item for the USA as long as it's pasteurized, processed, etc. (home-made goat cheese and some other soft cheeses would be prohibited, though)
Lots of good information here (PDF warning).
That said, what you describe--snack items, processed/packaged foods, crackers, etc.--are generally permitted. Again, as long as you declare properly.
Cheese is not a restricted item for the USA as long as it's pasteurized, processed, etc. (home-made goat cheese and some other soft cheeses would be prohibited, though)
Lots of good information here (PDF warning).
Jul 29, 2010, 9:05 am
#55
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Wenatchee, WA
Programs: Lifetime AA Gold-1MM
Posts: 4,909
All it has is "Cheese Powder," and it's the fourth listed ingredient, right ahead of salt.
Twisties Ingredients: Corn, Vegetable Oil, Rice, Whey Powder, Cheese Powder, Salt, Cream Powder, Milk Powder, Flavour Enhancer (621), Hydrolysed Vegetable Protein, Flavours, Yeast Extract, Food Acid (270), Cream Powder, Milk Powder, Colours
http://www.smiths.com.au/nutrition/n...n-twisties.htm
Twisties Ingredients: Corn, Vegetable Oil, Rice, Whey Powder, Cheese Powder, Salt, Cream Powder, Milk Powder, Flavour Enhancer (621), Hydrolysed Vegetable Protein, Flavours, Yeast Extract, Food Acid (270), Cream Powder, Milk Powder, Colours
http://www.smiths.com.au/nutrition/n...n-twisties.htm
Jul 29, 2010, 9:12 am
#56
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Under an ORD approach path
Programs: DL PM, MM. Coffee isn't a drug, it's a vitamin.
Posts: 12,935
However, in the case of the OP, are you sure that even qualifies as food? Doesn't look too nutritious.
Jul 29, 2010, 10:20 am
#58
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2002
Location: NYC, USA
Programs: AA EXP 3MM, Lifetime Platinum, Marriott Titanium, HH Gold
Posts: 10,967
Yes, meat products, even packaged, are not allowed entry. I went to a CBP open house a couple of years ago, and they had a show-and-tell of typical items confiscated, including some ones you wouldn't expect, like beef jerky, chicken bullion cubes, meat-flavored salad dressings, canned items, etc.
Jul 29, 2010, 11:35 am
#59
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Wenatchee, WA
Programs: Lifetime AA Gold-1MM
Posts: 4,909
Jul 29, 2010, 11:56 am
#60
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: 60137
Posts: 10,498