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
Jan 9, 2018, 12:20 pm
#721
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: ORD-JFK-EZE-MAD
Programs: AA LT PLT 4mm / Free Agent / GE / Secret Handshake
Posts: 854
https://www.fda.gov/ForIndustry/Impo.../ucm432661.htm (plenty of more information is found in the FDA and CBP websites)
It's easier for a customs broker to do all the paperwork.
--J
Jan 9, 2018, 3:08 pm
#723
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: ORD-JFK-EZE-MAD
Programs: AA LT PLT 4mm / Free Agent / GE / Secret Handshake
Posts: 854
I got that !!! 
Yet, people get so paranoid about the food question; it doesn't cease to amaze me. Everything is negotiable in life; everything. Negotiation skills, knowledge and assertiveness determine the outcome of the situation.
The system is set up to discourage the regular "Joe" to try to import food on their own when they land. Imagine standing behind 100 people at the airport all wanting to import 50 lb prosciutti at the same time
--J
Yet, people get so paranoid about the food question; it doesn't cease to amaze me. Everything is negotiable in life; everything. Negotiation skills, knowledge and assertiveness determine the outcome of the situation.
The system is set up to discourage the regular "Joe" to try to import food on their own when they land. Imagine standing behind 100 people at the airport all wanting to import 50 lb prosciutti at the same time
--J
Jan 9, 2018, 3:41 pm
#724
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Paris
Programs: AA LT Plat (4m+), AF Plat, A3 Gold, Hyatt Lifetime Globalist, Marriott Plat, IHG Plat/Ambassador
Posts: 2,648
I got that !!!
Yet, people get so paranoid about the food question; it doesn't cease to amaze me. Everything is negotiable in life; everything. Negotiation skills, knowledge and assertiveness determine the outcome of the situation.
The system is set up to discourage the regular "Joe" to try to import food on their own when they land. Imagine standing behind 100 people at the airport all wanting to import 50 lb prosciutti at the same time
--J
Yet, people get so paranoid about the food question; it doesn't cease to amaze me. Everything is negotiable in life; everything. Negotiation skills, knowledge and assertiveness determine the outcome of the situation.
The system is set up to discourage the regular "Joe" to try to import food on their own when they land. Imagine standing behind 100 people at the airport all wanting to import 50 lb prosciutti at the same time
--J
That said I have a new jacket which due to my prosciutto type is offering me a fantastic new outfit!
:-)
Jan 9, 2018, 4:26 pm
#725
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: ORD-JFK-EZE-MAD
Programs: AA LT PLT 4mm / Free Agent / GE / Secret Handshake
Posts: 854
Very true on the diet for the US CBP agents, with a few exceptions here and there...
I'll eat the prosciutto instead of wearing the jacket
--J
Jan 10, 2018, 1:23 am
#726
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: NYC
Programs: Marriot Am, MU Pt
Posts: 3,092
Usually I fly with no checked bags, but had two basically empty suitcases. Not digging the new order of things today:
1) Hand slip with food declaration so big circle: Agent "What did you declare?" Me "Just food, some instant noodles and preserved duck tongues" Agent *Glare as if I'm being annoying* Me "Just being honest" Agent "Move along"
2) Get baggage heading out: Agent "Come with me." Me "Sure." Agent "Anything to declare?" Had they not collected my slip already that question would have been answered already. Me "Yeah food" Agent "Beef or pork?" "No, just instant noodles and preserved duck tongues snacks." Agent "I asked if you have beef or pork" Me "No beef or pork" They scan my stuff takes about 15 seconds.
Of course the way the exit to the X-ray machine is order so they can drag bags over for inspection, my second suitcase didn't slide down they had to go and climb onto it to move it down.
Seems they went from efficient to inefficient.
1) Hand slip with food declaration so big circle: Agent "What did you declare?" Me "Just food, some instant noodles and preserved duck tongues" Agent *Glare as if I'm being annoying* Me "Just being honest" Agent "Move along"
2) Get baggage heading out: Agent "Come with me." Me "Sure." Agent "Anything to declare?" Had they not collected my slip already that question would have been answered already. Me "Yeah food" Agent "Beef or pork?" "No, just instant noodles and preserved duck tongues snacks." Agent "I asked if you have beef or pork" Me "No beef or pork" They scan my stuff takes about 15 seconds.
Of course the way the exit to the X-ray machine is order so they can drag bags over for inspection, my second suitcase didn't slide down they had to go and climb onto it to move it down.
Seems they went from efficient to inefficient.
Jan 10, 2018, 10:13 am
#727
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, AA, DL
Posts: 7,418
The new system is:
1) Go to kiosk, declare food, get slip with "O" (same as old system)
2) Hand slip to immigration officer *before* you go to baggage carousel.
2.a) If there is no "O":
--He will just check that it is really you on the slip, keep the slip and send you on your way.
--Collect checked luggage (if any)
--Leave the customs hall without speaking to anyone or giving your slip to anyone (since you don't have your slip anymore--the officer at immigration held onto it); there are customs officers at the exit who will stop you if something looks suspicious, but otherwise you just walk out.
2.b) If there is an "O", the new system I described kicks in.
1) Go to kiosk, declare food, get slip with "O" (same as old system)
2) Hand slip to immigration officer *before* you go to baggage carousel.
2.a) If there is no "O":
--He will just check that it is really you on the slip, keep the slip and send you on your way.
--Collect checked luggage (if any)
--Leave the customs hall without speaking to anyone or giving your slip to anyone (since you don't have your slip anymore--the officer at immigration held onto it); there are customs officers at the exit who will stop you if something looks suspicious, but otherwise you just walk out.
2.b) If there is an "O", the new system I described kicks in.
If, however, there's something questionable about what's in your checked bag (whether or not rightly so - see SFO's apparent desire to xray all food) then this could introduce additional delay because of the need to sit in an office and wait for the airline to get your bag for you. The same likely holds if you're declaring something else beyond allowable limits, such as >750ml of wine. Presumably the inspection itself will be the same (however thorough or not it may be). In this case, I could see a downside/inefficiency.
Given I've never been meaningfully delayed under the old system, checked or not, I'm skeptical whether the new system offers actual improvement and efficiency. I've questioned it in the GE at your airport thread as well with respect to IAD.
Jan 10, 2018, 10:23 am
#728
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, AA, DL
Posts: 7,418
Closest call I've read about is How Serious Are Those Customs/Global Entry Questions?
I told her [the CBP officer] ... that I hadn’t really considered that I should claim a bag of chips. She told me potato chips were most definitely a food and that if I had any gum or mints I had better go through my bag thoroughly before telling her I didn’t have any other food.
Jan 10, 2018, 4:53 pm
#729
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Danville, CA, USA;
Programs: UA 1MM, WN CP, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Gold, IC Plat
Posts: 15,716
I love it! My son found a website that makes custom sweats and it is tempting to order one that says "EAT ME" across the back. However there is no way I would wear that through customs as it is too easy for some vindictive bureaucrat to flag your permanent record creating years of hell and defeating the purpose of GE.
Jan 10, 2018, 9:13 pm
#730
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 38,410
Usually I fly with no checked bags, but had two basically empty suitcases. Not digging the new order of things today:
1) Hand slip with food declaration so big circle: Agent "What did you declare?" Me "Just food, some instant noodles and preserved duck tongues" Agent *Glare as if I'm being annoying* Me "Just being honest" Agent "Move along"
2) Get baggage heading out: Agent "Come with me." Me "Sure." Agent "Anything to declare?" Had they not collected my slip already that question would have been answered already. Me "Yeah food" Agent "Beef or pork?" "No, just instant noodles and preserved duck tongues snacks." Agent "I asked if you have beef or pork" Me "No beef or pork" They scan my stuff takes about 15 seconds.
Of course the way the exit to the X-ray machine is order so they can drag bags over for inspection, my second suitcase didn't slide down they had to go and climb onto it to move it down.
Seems they went from efficient to inefficient.
1) Hand slip with food declaration so big circle: Agent "What did you declare?" Me "Just food, some instant noodles and preserved duck tongues" Agent *Glare as if I'm being annoying* Me "Just being honest" Agent "Move along"
2) Get baggage heading out: Agent "Come with me." Me "Sure." Agent "Anything to declare?" Had they not collected my slip already that question would have been answered already. Me "Yeah food" Agent "Beef or pork?" "No, just instant noodles and preserved duck tongues snacks." Agent "I asked if you have beef or pork" Me "No beef or pork" They scan my stuff takes about 15 seconds.
Of course the way the exit to the X-ray machine is order so they can drag bags over for inspection, my second suitcase didn't slide down they had to go and climb onto it to move it down.
Seems they went from efficient to inefficient.
Jan 12, 2018, 7:24 pm
#732
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 38,410
Jan 12, 2018, 8:31 pm
#733
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Hawai'i Nei
Programs: Au: UA, Marriott, Hilton; GE
Posts: 7,133
Jan 12, 2018, 9:48 pm
#734
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: NYC
Programs: AA 2MM, Bonvoy LTT, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,635
Have to refer to Animal Product Manual to determine admissibility.
Jan 18, 2018, 4:50 pm
#735
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2002
Location: NYC, USA
Programs: AA EXP 3MM, Lifetime Platinum, Marriott Titanium, HH Gold
Posts: 10,967
Have to refer to Animal Product Manual to determine admissibility.
Last edited by ESpen36; Jan 19, 2018 at 4:32 pm Reason: typo