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 2, 2019, 7:12 pm
#932
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Colorado (anywhere between DEN DMM BAH)
Programs: United MileagePlus, SkyMiles, AAdvantage, NEXUS
Posts: 3,030
that is a loaded question. At pre clearance specifically, they have photos of your bag. The discretion to open your bag at secondary is there whether you declare or not. Yesterday I declared my one piece of chocolate. I gave my receipt, boarding pass, and passport and said just one piece of chocolate— the cbp officer said thanks welcome back as he looked at the photo (carry on and checked luggage photos are attached to your boarding pass scan)
Jun 2, 2019, 7:36 pm
#933
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: NYC
Programs: AA 2MM, Bonvoy LTT, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,636
I feel like we just had it lucky because we flew from YUL to IAD with two small things of hard Quebec cheese in the checked bag and my girlfriend had a Kinder Surprise egg (that are banned from the US) that she'd forgotten in her carry on, which obviously only went through Canadian security screening and so CBP wouldn't have known about it. We answered "no" to everything, completely forgetting that we had cheese in our luggage. The only thing we declared was a couple of bottles of alcohol and they let us through. It was only after we got back that I realized we were lucky.
So if we were to bring cheese or chocolate the next time (not Kinder Surprise eggs) and we declare them at US preclearance, would they automatically have to bring the checked bag out to check its contents? Or is it a matter of discretion? And if they do bring the checked bag, does that take time?
So if we were to bring cheese or chocolate the next time (not Kinder Surprise eggs) and we declare them at US preclearance, would they automatically have to bring the checked bag out to check its contents? Or is it a matter of discretion? And if they do bring the checked bag, does that take time?
Jun 2, 2019, 7:38 pm
#934
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Colorado (anywhere between DEN DMM BAH)
Programs: United MileagePlus, SkyMiles, AAdvantage, NEXUS
Posts: 3,030
Another thing to consider. You're assuming CBP doesn't have a beagle sniffing the baggage. There is a possibility they already flag the baggage for additional inspection and was waiting for you to make a declaration as to the contents within. So you could have ended up being caught making a false declaration.
Jun 2, 2019, 7:51 pm
#935
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Hawai'i Nei
Programs: Au: UA, Marriott, Hilton; GE
Posts: 7,141
The discretion to open your bag at secondary is there whether you declare or not. Yesterday I declared my one piece of chocolate. I gave my receipt, boarding pass, and passport and said just one piece of chocolate— the cbp officer said thanks welcome back as he looked at the photo (carry on and checked luggage photos are attached to your boarding pass scan)
Jun 2, 2019, 7:52 pm
#936
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Colorado (anywhere between DEN DMM BAH)
Programs: United MileagePlus, SkyMiles, AAdvantage, NEXUS
Posts: 3,030
Jun 2, 2019, 7:55 pm
#937
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Hawai'i Nei
Programs: Au: UA, Marriott, Hilton; GE
Posts: 7,141
Jun 2, 2019, 7:56 pm
#938
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Colorado (anywhere between DEN DMM BAH)
Programs: United MileagePlus, SkyMiles, AAdvantage, NEXUS
Posts: 3,030
Edit: To be clear, CBP scans your boarding pass, which is linked to the barcode on your luggage tag. That's how they know which bag x-ray is yours.
Last edited by Nayef; Jun 2, 2019 at 7:57 pm Reason: clarification
Jun 2, 2019, 7:57 pm
#939
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: DCA - PDX - LAX
Programs: AA Gold, UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, AS 75k
Posts: 766
1. You receive BP from airline
2. CATSA security scans your luggage tag prior to x-raying your checked luggage
3. CATSA scans your BP prior to x-raying your carry-on luggage
4. GE declaration
5. CBP takes your receipt and chooses to pull up your luggage on screen. (I assume they may be able to get the actual x-ray if needed, but never noticed)
For the question about supplements being food, I think it depends on the type of supplements (and possibly discretion)
Jun 2, 2019, 7:59 pm
#940
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: DCA - PDX - LAX
Programs: AA Gold, UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, AS 75k
Posts: 766
Jun 2, 2019, 8:08 pm
#941
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Boston, MA
Programs: Delta, American, JetBlue
Posts: 51
Tonight at BOS. I was asked the same "hidden" food question. I marked it "yes" and received an "X" on the printout. The officer asked what food I had with me and I told him. Received a "Welcome home" and was off to baggage claim.
Jun 2, 2019, 8:44 pm
#942
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Las Vegas
Programs: United Platinum, IHG Spire Ambassador, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 284
Yup, this is identical to what I get every. single. time.
Jun 2, 2019, 9:40 pm
#943
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: NYC
Programs: AA 2MM, Bonvoy LTT, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,636
Only on their screen. Basically this is my understanding of how it works (for Canada preclearance)
1. You receive BP from airline
2. CATSA security scans your luggage tag prior to x-raying your checked luggage
3. CATSA scans your BP prior to x-raying your carry-on luggage
4. GE declaration
5. CBP takes your receipt and chooses to pull up your luggage on screen. (I assume they may be able to get the actual x-ray if needed, but never noticed)
For the question about supplements being food, I think it depends on the type of supplements (and possibly discretion)
1. You receive BP from airline
2. CATSA security scans your luggage tag prior to x-raying your checked luggage
3. CATSA scans your BP prior to x-raying your carry-on luggage
4. GE declaration
5. CBP takes your receipt and chooses to pull up your luggage on screen. (I assume they may be able to get the actual x-ray if needed, but never noticed)
For the question about supplements being food, I think it depends on the type of supplements (and possibly discretion)
Jun 3, 2019, 2:17 am
#944
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Las Vegas
Programs: United Platinum, IHG Spire Ambassador, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 284
Actually I was referring to the “welcome back” from the customs agent. I should have been more specific. You’re correct about the circle (and not an X) - I’ve had the circle with “report to baggage control,” and never had an X.
Jun 3, 2019, 4:44 am
#945
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Boston, MA
Programs: Delta, American, JetBlue
Posts: 51
Apologies, I'd been traveling about 24 hours when I posted. Near the top of the receipt there was an X by the question number that was flagged. There was also a big circle on the receipt with the "report to baggage control" message.