US Customs Declaration & Food
 

I've been lucky not to have undergone in-depth screening exiting US Customs during the few international trips I've made, except for one Agricultural check a while back.

I've always completed the Customs declaration form so that I have the least likelihood of a further screening. I mark NOs on each item, even though it might not be true.

What worries me most usually is the food question. Are you bringing fruits, plants, food, and insects? I usually indicate NO, even if I am traveling with food (usually pastries and snacks).

What type of further questioning or examination will they subject me to if I indicate YES, I am bringing food? If I indiciate NO, and they find out I was not being truthful, will there be a fine levied against me?

Will I definitely get sent to another screening if I indicate YES, I am bringing meat products into the US?

I always declare, and I always get sent to the ag screening. If you don't declare food products, you do run the risk of being fined ($10,000). I usually see the beagles working with ag agents and they are surprisingly good at sniffing out food products.

Here's a site that should help with your questions.

There's also a specific link at the bottom to answer your questions about meat. The short answer is most meat products are not allowed, and getting caught with them when you haven't declared them could be a painful experience.

Interesting question. Just today came back to Toronto. Checked off "no" for food on Canadian customs form. When they asked me how much in goods I brought back (considered a resident because of my work pemit) I answered $150. When they asked me what I had, I answered chocolates, shirt, socks, candy, cereal... She wrote next to the box where I checked 'no': chocolates/ cereal OK and sent me through, no inspection needed.

I have checked off no for food at Toronto-Pearson (without thinking) and brought a piece of fruit which I ate before departure. No harm, but maybe if there's a $10,000 fine I better not try this again.

I always answer truthfully. Most of the time, the initial screener asks me what kind of food I have (usually chocolate from Switzerland) and sends me on my way. I would say that maybe 30% of the time I get sent to the agriculture secondary line, which is usually a pretty quick process anyway.

I used to check the "yes" box when I was returning from Italy with dried pasta, olive oil and vinegar. Of course, I also probably had a bottle of Grappa and a couple of small bottles of mineral water. I was always sent to the Ag inspector. Now, I just check the "no" box as I don't feel that these products are a threat to public health in the U.S.(nor are they about to be selected by the Ag canines). It is best to bear in mind that we really should not be bringing in fresh fruit, meat and cheese; you might also want to forget about picking up that nice-looking pate in the refrigerated case in Paris.

I've never had a problem bringing in cheese, so long as its hard, aged cheese. We have many pounds of truffle cheese, among others, from Italy sitting in our pantry now. It's time to go to Asolo when we run out of their local cheese. :)

Thanks everyone.

I'm not planning to bring in any fresh meat, but packaged meat products. I am in Singapore right now, and I'm off to buy some of Primataste packets to make some Singaporean culinary delights when I'm back in the states.

Most of them don't contain meat products, but some do, but mostly oils:
Hainanese Chicken Rice Fragrance Oil
Pork Oil

Hmm. I might have to pass on some items then.

Mea culpaLetiole I think that USDA is concerned about unpasturized soft cheese. Also, I found out years and years ago that it was permissible to bring in fresh white truffles.(BTW, pack those truffles very carefully.... Otherwise, your clothes will smell of white truffles forever. Remember, white truffles are considered duty-free as there is no U.S. competition. Italian white truffle season is normally the last two months of the year.

If it's cooked or sealed (cereals, chocolate) its fine, but anything 'natural' (dairy, meats) better be declared...

What I'll often do is to check "yes" for food and then scribble down next to that line what it is that I have. I use this technique for questionable items like lox from Iceland, manchego cheese from Spain, and fruit jellies from France. What always happens is that the customs officer collecting my form looks at what I have written down, asks me to clarify if necessary, and then sends me on my way. I've even gotten the "Why the heck did you check yes? That's not the purpose of the question" look. As a result, if I have food items that I know are acceptable, I won't bother checking yes.

Two related questions:

1. Are you required to itemize on the back if you are below the duty-free allowance? The customs officers never look at it when I do, and I've never been given a hard time when I don't.

2. Does anyone else find it curious that there is no place on the form to explicitly declare alcohol and tobacco, even though such goods have a separate duty-free allowance from the monetary limit? The occasional excess bottle of liquor has entered the USA in my carry-on courtesy of that omission by US Customs.

If I am bringing any food back I leave the box unchecked and ask as I go through customs if my packaged food, etc, is OK. I have never had any problems doing it that way. My idea is that by leaving it unchecked I will not be accused of lying on the form. Even if if gets inconvenient, honesty is still the best policy.
Kate

Same. I've never had a problem. Never had to go thru ag screening. (McVities, etc.)

I will check the box and then write "chocolate" or whatever the allowed product is. Sometimes it is waived right through, other times right to the ag xray.

Meat is a no-no...
 

for the U.S. as far as casual imports (i.e., without a permit, what you want to do) go. Don't even think about it. I asked in advance about bringing some cooked beef from Canada to go on a camping trip. Was told that just about all meat is excluded unless you had a permit. All you're allowed is a single meal portion (such as a beef sandwich or chilli dog/sloppy joe).

I've got mixed responses from Customs on boxed chocolates I've brought back from Europe. One agent told me to check "NO" on the form as to whether I have food items such as this, and another agent read me the riot act on a subsequent trip for not checking YES (he saw the chocolates itemized on the form). Now I always check YES and just let them decide.