Can I carry cheese into US ?
#2
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Raleigh,NC,USA
Posts: 227
#3
In Memoriam
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Easton, CT, USA
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Posts: 31,801
It depends.
In general probably not (you can carry it but they will take it when you declare it or the doggies find it). Hard cheeses are usually let through easier than soft ones. They would need to be pasteurized. Unless the cheese shop or whatever knows for certain they are approved for import, I would bet they would be problems at the border.
If it's been inspected for import into the US, it's probably not the kind of stuff you want to waste your time and money carrying back.
Meat products, especially fresh meats, would almost certainly not get through.
If you do try, I would not risk trying to smuggle them through without declaring them. If they do catch you, they will probably fine you in addition to taking the products.
In general probably not (you can carry it but they will take it when you declare it or the doggies find it). Hard cheeses are usually let through easier than soft ones. They would need to be pasteurized. Unless the cheese shop or whatever knows for certain they are approved for import, I would bet they would be problems at the border.
If it's been inspected for import into the US, it's probably not the kind of stuff you want to waste your time and money carrying back.
Meat products, especially fresh meats, would almost certainly not get through.
If you do try, I would not risk trying to smuggle them through without declaring them. If they do catch you, they will probably fine you in addition to taking the products.
#4
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: NCL
Programs: UA 1MM/*G. DL Gold for one more year.
Posts: 5,305
As already suggested, it's not even worth trying with meat/fish products even if you declare it, unless they're in a can. With cheese, I would take the risk of having it impounded, but I'd certainly declare it. Chances are you'll get to keep it; the one time I brought cheese into the US from Europe and went through the red channel, the customs official responded: "It's good for jetlag - proceed!".
#9
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 5
Cheese is not problem. I've brought in all kinds of cheese from France and Italy without difficulty. This includes runny well-ripened stinky cheese. A farmer's cheese or a ricotta would be a soft cheese and theoretically not allowed, but my impression is that customs just doesn't care about cheese. FWIW I keep vacuum packed Parmigiano for months and it stays tasty. When you do open it, never touch it with your hands and double wrap in plastic and it will last months more.
#11
Join Date: Aug 2005
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#15
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: NCL
Programs: UA 1MM/*G. DL Gold for one more year.
Posts: 5,305
Well that should give you a hint about the quality of the ingredients
But unless I'm mistaken, so long as you declare it, the worst that can happen is that they will take it from you. Even though that is the likely outcome, you may find it worth the odds.
But unless I'm mistaken, so long as you declare it, the worst that can happen is that they will take it from you. Even though that is the likely outcome, you may find it worth the odds.