To the OP:
The first three items almost certainly should be allowed, and wouldn't require declaration. That said, what exactly do you mean by "baby milk?" If you mean pumped breast milk, that should be no issue at all. If you mean powdered baby formula, that should also be fine. If it is fluid milk, as in something that wasn't taken down to a powdered form, you will have a problem.
Originally Posted by
bocastephen
I regularly bring in candy, chocolates, boxed cereals, etc., but always declare them. I've also brought in baked Chinese 'bao' or buns filled with pork, but I think the inspector thought they were pastries and not meat, but I'm not sure.
I just don't get why you would. What you are specifically describing are all allowed and its really a waste of everyone's time to declare them. It is better to spend 30 minutes or so boning up on what is legal and what isn't and doing it that way.
Originally Posted by
jbcarioca
To be practical don't bring anything opened. All canned goods normally are OK but nothing otherwise is consistently accepted. I have found that the inspectors do not really know their own rules so rather than confuse them I bring anything in a tin or a sealed jar, nothing otherwise. That seems to work. Even infant food that is opened will often be confiscated. Remember than anything that is more than 100ml must be in checked baggage. They do not accept exceptions with any consistency even is the rules provide for, say, baby formula.
If the TSA, which is definitely different from CBP who could care less how much you have in your carry-on, gives you a hard time over baby formula, you demand a supervisor and file complaints immediately.
Originally Posted by
Verboten
I always wonder about the rationale behind these regulations. What if I just consume the stuff on the spot if it is illegal to bring them in? So it is illegal in a bag but not in a stomach?
You actually do have the option of consuming them on the spot. There are two main reasons you can't bring this stuff in. First is the potential to bring in various agricultural diseases and pests. This mainly applies to fruits, especially citrus and tropical fruits. The old story goes that the Mediterranean Fruit Fly came to California from some tourist who had an orange with them. May be BS, but there are very legitimate threats to agriculture by bringing in problematic fresh fruit. The second reason, and it stems from the first, is agricultural protectionism.
Anyway, if it is in your stomach, they aren't worried about it getting out anymore.