Bringing food

[maplestar 2]

I keep wondering about this, because all my travel back and forth is by plane (since I don't have a driver's license). And I know the little cards you have to fill out when you cross the border ask if you're carrying food with you. And I've always avoided bringing food with me, because I'm expecting if I check that box to end up with a hassle. Am I worrying too much? What's allowed? Anybody know? What's not? What's your experience with checking the box?

[thetreble 19]

If you mean, can I bring a sandwich on the plane, then yes, you can.

I think the food reference is to special foods that maybe other countries do not allow or if you were bringing an entire ham on the plane..or something like that.

[maplestar 2]

If you mean, can I bring a sandwich on the plane, then yes, you can.

I think the food reference is to special foods that maybe other countries do not allow or if you were bringing an entire ham on the plane..or something like that.

No, it was the grocery thread that got me wondering...and wondering what the line is between allowed and not allowed. Are certain items allowed and others prohibited? Are some things limited to a certain quantity/amount? That sort of thing.

(Besides, with pre-clearance, any sandwich I brought on the plane would probably be purchased after I cleared customs!)

[thetreble 19]

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/id_visa/...g_travelers.xml

Read this.

I will say that I have had bananas taken from me on previous occasions at the border.

[maplestar 2]

I found a list explaining what can be brought back to Canada here: http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/fpa-apa/law-loi-eng.html but I haven't seen anything that detailed listing what's permitted/prohibited crossing into the US.

[maplestar 2]

I found this which seems a little more detailed, but I'm not sure how up to date it would be.

http://thehague.usembassy.gov/faqs/u.s.-customs/

[thetreble 19]

Sounds recent to me.

[Rob&Dawn 1]

I have taken in food on nearly every visit.

Although i did have oxo cubes refused...forgot they had animal by product...duh.

silly things that can't get in US or they taste too different...like tomato ketchup, vegetable stock, encona, bisto, cadburys chocolate.

I now always ensure that no animal by product is in anything that i'm taking and then i know i'm on the right track.

[Reba 2]

You can't bring meat or dairy products into the US, nor fresh fruits or vegetables. Most pre-packaged and canned foods are ok to bring, unless they contain meat by-products.

I used to just bring myself a supply of chocolates whenever I came back down, and one time my Mum brought me a bottle of ketchup and a bottle of Lick's GUK, and she said the guy who inspected her luggage gave her a really weird look when she said she had some GUK

Anything that you send via MAIL to the US MAY be confiscated, or it may not. FDA mail inspectors seem to be about as consistent as border POE officials Of course they've relaxed the rules a little bit again. Directly after the anthrax mailers I tried to mail my father-in-law some Timmy's hot chocolate mix, and the Post Office wouldn't take it unless I had got preclearance from the FDA to do so

If you don't want the hassle of possible inspection when you get to the POE though, just order off the internet from the myriad of Canadian food sellers who have warehouses in the US now.