Bringing food items into the UK

[Sockmonkey 0]

When I go to visit my husband in England later this week I am bringing two suitcases, one for my clothes and toiletries, and a second one that I will use to bring back some of my husband's things (so we can save shipping $$ later).

Since his family knows I am bringing what is essentially an empty case, I have been bombarded with requests for American candy and snack items. Frankly, it's a lot of stuff....enough to fill the whole case. As long as all of the items are individually permissable to bring into the UK, do you think I'll have trouble bringing the stuff in? Should I group things together and label them as to who gets what, to help show that they are gifts and not all just for one person? Because I already have to be prepared to prove that I am returning to the US, I don't want to add something else that is likely to be a big hassle/cause for scrutiny.

Thanks,

JenM

[Saddle Bronc 124]

What would happen if you claimed that all of it was for "personal consumption"? (seriously, I've carried much foodstuff from Canada into US that way).

[Sockmonkey 0]

What would happen if you claimed that all of it was for "personal consumption"? (seriously, I've carried much foodstuff from Canada into US that way).

Good question. I really don't know! I have combed the UK Customs site for information, and the closest thing I can find to an answer is that you can't bring in anything over £145 without paying tax on it. Does this mean I can bring in whatever non-liquid junk food I please unless the amount exceeds £145?

With my luck, I can just picture being held up at customs because I have an XL sized suitcase brimming with Barnum's Animal Crackers, Nutter Butter cookies and Reese's Cups!!!!!

JenM

[Kez/JWolf 6]

I am flying home to the UK on Friday... I have in one suitcase a 10lbs bag of pancake mix, 4lbs bag of gummybears, 2lbs hershies kisses, 2 jars of Peach salsa and a 10lbs bag of mixed candy...

I have taken this sort of thing in the past and I have never been asked about it.... even when I had the case searched at customs.... all the guy said was oh Gummybears they are my fav too...

Have a good trip

Kezzie

[Sockmonkey 0]

I am flying home to the UK on Friday... I have in one suitcase a 10lbs bag of pancake mix, 4lbs bag of gummybears, 2lbs hershies kisses, 2 jars of Peach salsa and a 10lbs bag of mixed candy...

I have taken this sort of thing in the past and I have never been asked about it.... even when I had the case searched at customs.... all the guy said was oh Gummybears they are my fav too...

Have a good trip

Kezzie

Yay! That's exactly what I needed to hear! Have a safe journey, Kezzie. I hope we're able to enjoy good weather on our stays. There's a bit of a late-season heatwave in York this week, so I'm hoping it will hold up until I'm on my way home. My last visit in early May was brutal!

JenM

[Kez/JWolf 6]

He he I am going to north east Scotland so I am packing lots of warm things as its still warm here in boston...

Have a wonderful time in York..

Kezzie

[Dr_LHA 3]

I am flying home to the UK on Friday... I have in one suitcase a 10lbs bag of pancake mix, 4lbs bag of gummybears, 2lbs hershies kisses, 2 jars of Peach salsa and a 10lbs bag of mixed candy...

You should perhaps replace the 10lb bag of pancake mix with a Post-it note telling the person how to make it from commonly available ingredients in the UK!

[Kez/JWolf 6]

I am flying home to the UK on Friday... I have in one suitcase a 10lbs bag of pancake mix, 4lbs bag of gummybears, 2lbs hershies kisses, 2 jars of Peach salsa and a 10lbs bag of mixed candy...

You should perhaps replace the 10lb bag of pancake mix with a Post-it note telling the person how to make it from commonly available ingredients in the UK!

Ah yes but it so much easier to make when all you have to do is add water.... I cant quite see my 24 years old son cooking pankcakes from scratch..... never mind the mess he would make.....

Kezzie

[Lou Lou 1]

I guess I'm wondering why the heck anyone would want US candy living in the UK

But anyway, you won't have any trouble at all. Safe trip

[Dr_LHA 3]

Indeed. If people really want the full hershey's experience in the UK: simply melt 1 part cheap store bought chocolate with 2 parts candle wax.

[Fandango 1,439]

I am flying home to the UK on Friday... I have in one suitcase a 10lbs bag of pancake mix, 4lbs bag of gummybears, 2lbs hershies kisses, 2 jars of Peach salsa and a 10lbs bag of mixed candy...

You should perhaps replace the 10lb bag of pancake mix with a Post-it note telling the person how to make it from commonly available ingredients in the UK!

Ah yes but it so much easier to make when all you have to do is add water.... I cant quite see my 24 years old son cooking pankcakes from scratch..... never mind the mess he would make.....

Kezzie

I bought American pancake mix at Asda...

anyways, hope you have a great time Kez....you tooo SockMonkey Love York and I'm jealous

[Saddle Bronc 124]

I guess I'm wondering why the heck anyone would want US candy living in the UK ...

The same reason I was asked by one relative to bring Cursey's bars to India when I was already carrying Lindt and Tobler (someone there has NO taste).

I could understand better if they at least asked for Canadian chocolate since there is one half-decent (Nielsen) and one full-decent (Laura Secord) brands

[Lou Lou 1]

I bought American pancake mix at Asda...

I've seen it in Tesco and Waitrose too. I think it's quite common in the UK, which is a bit of a worry considering the UK is increasingly inheriting the US's problem with food and nutrition.

Sorry for the mini hi-jack.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

But UK hasn't yet inherited too much of the "high fructose" (or any other kind) corn syrup being used as a cheap sweetener.

I didn't even know that North-American style pancakes had any market in UK.

[Kez/JWolf 6]

But when you live in a very small town in the north east of scotland, the local supermarket only carries the most popular items... and american pancake mix is not one of them....

So the 10lbs bag of mix has to fly with us on friday....

just have to hope it does not burst open and the case to be left out in the rain.... could make for an interesting mess....

Kezzie