Sep 6, 2018, 11:23 am
Last edit by: seawolf
Global Entry kiosks typically ask a yes/no question about whether you are bringing "food" into the country. The question is broader than on the deprecated blue form that asked about fruits, vegetables, meats, etc.
CBP answers the question of whether you must declare all "food" on its website:
CBP expects declaration to be made even if not asked by kiosk or explicitly asked by CBP officer
Yes, all food items and products must be declared when entering the U.S.
You may be able to bring in food such as fruits, meats or other agricultural products depending on the region or country from which you are traveling.
General consensus is that the best practice is to declare any "food", include candies, cookies, snacks, etc. and then inform the CBP agent about your food. Experience has been that in nearly all cases the agent will wave you through with extremely minimal delay. As explained elsewhere, the primary focus of the question is to prevent importation of fruits, vegetable, and meats that could cause harm to the American food supply, but it is safest to allow the CBP agent to make the determination.
There is some debate as to whether items one can ingest for non-nutritive reasons (e.g., gum, toothpaste, medicine) should qualify as food. There does not appear to be an answer from CBP or experience showing the proper categorization of such items.
CBP answers the question of whether you must declare all "food" on its website:
CBP expects declaration to be made even if not asked by kiosk or explicitly asked by CBP officer
Link to TTP Interview guidance letter - Thanks hourglass
Must I declare food items or products when using the Global entry kiosk?
Yes, all food items and products must be declared when entering the U.S.You may be able to bring in food such as fruits, meats or other agricultural products depending on the region or country from which you are traveling.
There is some debate as to whether items one can ingest for non-nutritive reasons (e.g., gum, toothpaste, medicine) should qualify as food. There does not appear to be an answer from CBP or experience showing the proper categorization of such items.
Global Entry Kiosks Declarations and Food Questions
Jun 7, 2014, 7:17 pm
#166
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Came back from Brussels today with Belgian chocolate. At JFK, answered yes to food. Guy at the exit sent me to agriculture, almost apologetically.
Guy at agriculture very nice, said I was right to declare, and sent me on my way. Total additional time? About 60 seconds.
Guy at agriculture very nice, said I was right to declare, and sent me on my way. Total additional time? About 60 seconds.
Jun 8, 2014, 12:06 pm
#167
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I brought chocolate (from Switzerland) with me through pre-clearance at YYZ. Checked yes to food, officer at the booth nearest the machine looked at the slip, asked for my passport/bp and what I had. I offered to show him, he said I trust you since you voluntarily declared it, stamped my bp and sent me on my way. Total extra time was probably somewhere between 20-30 seconds.
Is this really such a big deal?
Is this really such a big deal?
Jun 8, 2014, 4:21 pm
#169
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I brought chocolate (from Switzerland) with me through pre-clearance at YYZ. Checked yes to food, officer at the booth nearest the machine looked at the slip, asked for my passport/bp and what I had. I offered to show him, he said I trust you since you voluntarily declared it, stamped my bp and sent me on my way. Total extra time was probably somewhere between 20-30 seconds.
Is this really such a big deal?
Is this really such a big deal?
Second, I don't think anyone here wants to get on the wrong side of the law, but it is disconcerting to declare chocolates and have a CBP agent ask you why you are wasting his time. I don't make the rules, his HQ does, I'm just trying to comply.
Jun 8, 2014, 8:03 pm
#170
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Last time I answered 'yes' to the food question due to bringing in Gouda cheese from the Netherlands at DTW, I got sent to Agriculture, who ran ALL my luggage (carry on & backpack included), adding another 10+ minutes to the process, which was totally unnecessary.
So yes, to me this question is a big deal.
So yes, to me this question is a big deal.
Jun 9, 2014, 8:03 am
#171
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It's really a shame that they can't update the questions on the kiosk to be more relevant to what they do/do not care about. They could even have a little "?" to get more help on the food question. Or have a second page of questions If you say you have food to offer more granular options. They can always have an option that says "other/not sure".
Jun 11, 2014, 11:39 am
#173
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I brought chocolate (from Switzerland) with me through pre-clearance at YYZ. Checked yes to food, officer at the booth nearest the machine looked at the slip, asked for my passport/bp and what I had. I offered to show him, he said I trust you since you voluntarily declared it, stamped my bp and sent me on my way. Total extra time was probably somewhere between 20-30 seconds.
Is this really such a big deal?
Is this really such a big deal?
The baggage control facility at MIA had queue barriers that are about 40-50 feet in length. Imagine coming in during peak times with more than a dozen or more people ahead of you waiting for baggage control. Easily take an hour or more to clear in those scenarios. So much for GE.
Jun 11, 2014, 12:21 pm
#174
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Yes it can be a big deal....early trip this year coming back to MIA. Baggage control screening took 15-20 minutes with 2 people ahead of me. Bringing back allowed food items.
The baggage control facility at MIA had queue barriers that are about 40-50 feet in length. Imagine coming in during peak times with more than a dozen or more people ahead of you waiting for baggage control. Easily take an hour or more to clear in those scenarios. So much for GE.
The baggage control facility at MIA had queue barriers that are about 40-50 feet in length. Imagine coming in during peak times with more than a dozen or more people ahead of you waiting for baggage control. Easily take an hour or more to clear in those scenarios. So much for GE.
Seems to me that if the regular process is to send you to ag screening for any food item (including cookies, candy, etc.), there should be an expedited lane/cut in line process for GE holders like there is for customs.
Jun 11, 2014, 7:14 pm
#175
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There is no chocolate in the world that would make me line up for secondary.
I did bring back a tiny bottle of 40 year old balsamic vinegar from Italy (allowed) that I was happy to declare, and it fortunately did not take much time, but it would have to be some incredible chocolate to be worth the gamble on the 20 seconds vs. 20 minutes secondary. More likely I just don't bring the food.
I did bring back a tiny bottle of 40 year old balsamic vinegar from Italy (allowed) that I was happy to declare, and it fortunately did not take much time, but it would have to be some incredible chocolate to be worth the gamble on the 20 seconds vs. 20 minutes secondary. More likely I just don't bring the food.
Nov 1, 2014, 4:46 pm
#176
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When I entered ORD in the beginning of the month, I had a lot of luggage and had some mustard and macarons with me. I answered yes to the food question and was sent to secondary. I sent my bags through the X-ray and that was that. The ag agent was maybe more worried with the man who came back from Asia with many boxes of pineapple cakes.
I came back into IAH a few weeks later from IST and checked the yes box. After telling the CBP agent that I had gummies, he told me that I didn't need to declare that and sent me off. But thinking about it now, many gummy candies have gelatin, which comes from animals. Would that then be a meat product?
I came back into IAH a few weeks later from IST and checked the yes box. After telling the CBP agent that I had gummies, he told me that I didn't need to declare that and sent me off. But thinking about it now, many gummy candies have gelatin, which comes from animals. Would that then be a meat product?
Nov 2, 2014, 5:29 am
#177
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GE kiosks have changed the question about food
That's exactly what is causing the confusion. At some stations they tell you after the fact you didn't need to declare despite it being food (item you ingest). Seems like if they are going to keep the good question they should make allow GE head of the line privilege at baggage control.
Nov 2, 2014, 6:51 pm
#178
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That's exactly what is causing the confusion. At some stations they tell you after the fact you didn't need to declare despite it being food (item you ingest). Seems like if they are going to keep the good question they should make allow GE head of the line privilege at baggage control.
Nov 3, 2014, 3:12 pm
#180
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Agree, although the places I've used GE there's a separate line for GE at the baggage/customs check. They should have this everywhere if they don't.