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
May 3, 2018, 9:16 am
#766
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Well, presuming what was in the bag was under the spend limit and under the quantity limit for items that have such -- like cigarettes and alcohol -- If it were me I would then mention that the kiosk asked specifically whether I had any duty free items that exceeded the limits and since I did not I indicated that. That seems to be what Retiredflyboy is asking. I'm curious to know how the 
fficer responded.
fficer responded.
May 3, 2018, 9:34 am
#767
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Well, presuming what was in the bag was under the spend limit and under the quantity limit for items that have such -- like cigarettes and alcohol -- If it were me I would then mention that the kiosk asked specifically whether I had any duty free items that exceeded the limits and since I did not I indicated that. That seems to be what Retiredflyboy is asking. I'm curious to know how the fficer responded.
fficer responded.
May 3, 2018, 10:14 am
#769
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be declared at the kiosk.
May 4, 2018, 10:00 am
#772
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I'm not sure a diplomatic pouch would immunize a prohibited import.
E.g. https://www.apnews.com/2e6ef80ed7d565223738a6be7fb35122
E.g. https://www.apnews.com/2e6ef80ed7d565223738a6be7fb35122
May 4, 2018, 1:12 pm
#773
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Moderator's Note
Reminder!
Folks,
Just a gentle reminder that the Trusted Travelers forum is informational. Members come here to share experiences and offer practical advice about applying for and using the various Trusted Travelers programs in order that they can travel with minimum hassle and maximum benefits.
Please limit your responses here to facts, experiences, data points and practical suggestions.
Opinion and commentary belong in the Checkpoints and Borders Policy Debate forum.
Post(s) have been deleted.
Thank your for understanding,
TWA884
Travel Safety/Security co-moderator
Just a gentle reminder that the Trusted Travelers forum is informational. Members come here to share experiences and offer practical advice about applying for and using the various Trusted Travelers programs in order that they can travel with minimum hassle and maximum benefits.
Please limit your responses here to facts, experiences, data points and practical suggestions.
Opinion and commentary belong in the Checkpoints and Borders Policy Debate forum.
Post(s) have been deleted.
Thank your for understanding,
TWA884
Travel Safety/Security co-moderator
May 7, 2018, 6:58 pm
#774
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As I mentioned in an earlier one, an agent once told me that duty free alcohol/wine must be declared as food, and told me he was letting me off with a warning this time.
Since then, I've always declared food on my form when entering the US - whether with granola bars or wine - and after the agent asked me what I had declared, waved me through. Never had any issues - happy to get the O on the pass now every time!
Only SFO was a little cumbersome, where I had to send my bag through a scanner after they saw the O on the slip.
Since then, I've always declared food on my form when entering the US - whether with granola bars or wine - and after the agent asked me what I had declared, waved me through. Never had any issues - happy to get the O on the pass now every time!
Only SFO was a little cumbersome, where I had to send my bag through a scanner after they saw the O on the slip.
May 8, 2018, 12:38 am
#775
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I went to my local drug store (part of a large chain) today and almost fell down when I saw their stock of Kinder Joy eggs, each with a "surpise toy inside." Haven't they read Flyertalk and discovered that these are illegal in the US? Or have the rules changed?
May 8, 2018, 12:53 am
#776
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Jun 10, 2018, 4:30 am
#777
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Moderator's Note: Topic Drift
Folks,
This thread is about Global Entry kiosk declarations and food questions, not NEXUS consoles used to enter Canada.
Several posts have been relocated to the The NEXUS Information Thread.
TWA884
Travel Safety/Security co-moderator
This thread is about Global Entry kiosk declarations and food questions, not NEXUS consoles used to enter Canada.
Several posts have been relocated to the The NEXUS Information Thread.
TWA884
Travel Safety/Security co-moderator
Jun 11, 2018, 1:26 am
#778
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Should we still be checking food for things like mints and life savers? Also how does Mobile Passport handle the yes to food question. Does it also indicate an O or does it simply not process and send you to the kiosk instead?
Jun 11, 2018, 8:23 am
#779
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since food is so generic, I am always confused. Everytime I listed things like mints, gum, protein bar, chocolate. The agents say that’s allowed and not what they mean for declaration. So it’s confusing now that food really means anything from a tea bag to mints. That would mean that basically every single traveler coming through has some sort of food item in their bag.
Should we still be checking food for things like mints and life savers? Also how does Mobile Passport handle the yes to food question. Does it also indicate an O or does it simply not process and send you to the kiosk instead?
ne encounters a CBP whose interpretation of the rules is different. That's why I go for the lowest common denominator. If you are supposed to eat/consume it, it is food and I declare it. That hasn't gotten me into any trouble yet.
Jun 11, 2018, 8:52 am
#780
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since food is so generic, I am always confused. Everytime I listed things like mints, gum, protein bar, chocolate. The agents say that’s allowed and not what they mean for declaration. So it’s confusing now that food really means anything from a tea bag to mints. That would mean that basically every single traveler coming through has some sort of food item in their bag.
Should we still be checking food for things like mints and life savers? Also how does Mobile Passport handle the yes to food question. Does it also indicate an O or does it simply not process and send you to the kiosk instead?
The agents who say gum, mints, etc. are allowed are being misleading - it is correct that they are allowed, but that doesn't mean you don't have to declare them. As the poster above noted, wine is allowed (in certain quantities duty free) but failing to declare it evidently might lead to a warning.
CBP apparently needs to train their staff better - too many of these "you didn't need to declare that" responses. Fortunately, it's been a while since I confronted one of those - mostly just a "thanks, that's fine" or "thanks - next".