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
Oct 5, 2023, 5:35 am
#1066
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After my overnight trip back from GUM last weekend, I declared four 5-pound bags of whole wheat flour, and two sachets of coffee.
Oct 5, 2023, 5:58 am
#1067
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To each his/her own, but I declare everything. Most recent, I declared 3 boxes of Godiva chocolates. Of course, there's the I purchased items for $XX,XXX dollars, and we go through that drill. I'm of the view that out of an abundance of caution, I'm declaring everything and anything. Though, I think we should raise the $800 limit to at least $2,500, to keep with modern times.
Oct 28, 2023, 9:45 pm
#1068
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Candy is always odd for me.
Several links seem to just say all food, however this pdf which is for Global Entry says...
You must declare any fruits, vegetables, plants, insects, meats or meat products, dairy products, animals or animals/wildlife products, disease agents, cell cultures, snails, or soil. If you have visited a farm/ranch/pasture outside the United States, please let the CBP officer know
Which doesn't seem to include candy etc.
I do not recall the machine even asking now about declaring food and even if you do to an officer, I bet if you got stopped later on, you wouldn't be able to prove who you said it to and when.
Several links seem to just say all food, however this pdf which is for Global Entry says...
You must declare any fruits, vegetables, plants, insects, meats or meat products, dairy products, animals or animals/wildlife products, disease agents, cell cultures, snails, or soil. If you have visited a farm/ranch/pasture outside the United States, please let the CBP officer know
Which doesn't seem to include candy etc.
I do not recall the machine even asking now about declaring food and even if you do to an officer, I bet if you got stopped later on, you wouldn't be able to prove who you said it to and when.
Oct 29, 2023, 11:55 am
#1069
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But CBP also says you must declare all food. They care about certain things, but the wording here says must and all. I say candy and tea whatever I have. The never care. Once they were annoyed with me. But I'm not risking GE.
https://help.cbp.gov/s/article/Artic...language=en_US
https://help.cbp.gov/s/article/Artic...language=en_US
Oct 29, 2023, 12:32 pm
#1070
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Candy is always odd for me.
Several links seem to just say all food, however this pdf which is for Global Entry says...
You must declare any fruits, vegetables, plants, insects, meats or meat products, dairy products, animals or animals/wildlife products, disease agents, cell cultures, snails, or soil. If you have visited a farm/ranch/pasture outside the United States, please let the CBP officer know
Which doesn't seem to include candy etc.
I do not recall the machine even asking now about declaring food and even if you do to an officer, I bet if you got stopped later on, you wouldn't be able to prove who you said it to and when.
Several links seem to just say all food, however this pdf which is for Global Entry says...
You must declare any fruits, vegetables, plants, insects, meats or meat products, dairy products, animals or animals/wildlife products, disease agents, cell cultures, snails, or soil. If you have visited a farm/ranch/pasture outside the United States, please let the CBP officer know
Which doesn't seem to include candy etc.
I do not recall the machine even asking now about declaring food and even if you do to an officer, I bet if you got stopped later on, you wouldn't be able to prove who you said it to and when.
Oct 30, 2023, 6:19 am
#1072
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ught back need to be declared as well!
Nov 3, 2023, 11:22 am
#1073
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Candy is always odd for me.
Several links seem to just say all food, however this pdf which is for Global Entry says...
You must declare any fruits, vegetables, plants, insects, meats or meat products, dairy products, animals or animals/wildlife products, disease agents, cell cultures, snails, or soil. If you have visited a farm/ranch/pasture outside the United States, please let the CBP officer know
Which doesn't seem to include candy etc.
I do not recall the machine even asking now about declaring food and even if you do to an officer, I bet if you got stopped later on, you wouldn't be able to prove who you said it to and when.
Several links seem to just say all food, however this pdf which is for Global Entry says...
You must declare any fruits, vegetables, plants, insects, meats or meat products, dairy products, animals or animals/wildlife products, disease agents, cell cultures, snails, or soil. If you have visited a farm/ranch/pasture outside the United States, please let the CBP officer know
Which doesn't seem to include candy etc.
I do not recall the machine even asking now about declaring food and even if you do to an officer, I bet if you got stopped later on, you wouldn't be able to prove who you said it to and when.
Anyway, with facial recognition there are no questions on the kiosk but it remains an open question as to whether you have to affirmatively declare anything that might possibly be prohibited, such as candy, just so you can say you declared food. The guidance is unclear. At my last entry I said I had some cookies and candy, the CBP officer pointed to the sign behind him "any of these?" which listed fruits, etc. I said no.
Nov 3, 2023, 11:49 am
#1075
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https://www.cbp.gov/travel/internati...cultural-items
Many agriculture products are prohibited entry into the United States from certain countries because they may carry plant pests and foreign animal diseases. All agriculture items must be declared and are subject to inspection by a CBP Agriculture Specialist at ports of entry to ensure they are free of plant pests and foreign animal diseases. Prohibited or restricted items may include meats, fresh fruits and vegetables, plants, seeds, soil and products made from animal or plant materials.
At this point for me, if a sniffer dog alerts on my bag or a CBP agent asks, as they are supposed to before conducting a search, I will tell them I have candy and cookies.
Nov 3, 2023, 3:23 pm
#1076
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Much of this thread is based on the period when the GE kiosks asked 4 questions, one of which was "do you have any food" (more or less). The original question was specific as to fruits, vegetables, etc. and at some point they changed it - probably because a few people they stopped claimed, perhaps successfully, that what they had wasn't one of those things but was nonetheless not allowed.
Anyway, with facial recognition there are no questions on the kiosk but it remains an open question as to whether you have to affirmatively declare anything that might possibly be prohibited, such as candy, just so you can say you declared food. The guidance is unclear. At my last entry I said I had some cookies and candy, the CBP officer pointed to the sign behind him "any of these?" which listed fruits, etc. I said no.
Anyway, with facial recognition there are no questions on the kiosk but it remains an open question as to whether you have to affirmatively declare anything that might possibly be prohibited, such as candy, just so you can say you declared food. The guidance is unclear. At my last entry I said I had some cookies and candy, the CBP officer pointed to the sign behind him "any of these?" which listed fruits, etc. I said no.
19 CFR 148.11 requires you to declare all articles; technically everything must be declared but from enforcement perspective they waive declaration on items you left US with (eg you declare all items acquired abroad).
Interview instructions provides additional clarity/reinforcement that CBP expects proactive declaration even if not asked.
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/33822725-post223.html