Crossing border by land...

[Tithen 4]

We are spending 3+ weeks in Canada this summer. When he came to visit me, he was miserable. He has a sensory disorder that involves food, and as we all know, foods taste different across the border.

I'm just wondering if anyone has a link that will tell me how much food I can take across for him? things like Ketchup, A1, taco sauce? I don't want to have it packed into the car and have them take it at the border. I'm pretty sure he would cry. If I can't take it, I'd like to start shipping it up now.

Also... anyone got a link on how much food I can bring back with me? I really miss my Honey Garlic cooking sauce and would love to bring a bunch of it back! lol. Oh and Kraft dinner.. I would give anything for KD! Mac and Cheese just doesn't cut it. It's so not the same. I'm bringing all my belongings with me (I have that form), I just wasn't sure if food would count because I haven't owned it for a year.

Everything in both directions would be unopened.. heck I'll even cart the garbage back to the US if I have to. It would be larger quantities coming back to the US if allowed.. but still for personal use.

I have browsed the border websites, but I'm guessing at least one person on here has actually done it, and will have some answers for me that wont confuse me!

[Hugglebuggles 60]

I don't have any official links for you, but I can share my experiences! I've crossed with a lot of food in the past... One time, I went on vacation and brought 4 boxes of food with me. It was just sitting in the backseat. It was mostly stuff like chips and snack food, and non-perishable items. The CBP looked at it, and didn't say a word.

Food isn't an issue as long as you don't bring something you aren't allowed to import. Fruits and vegetables for example. I think there is also an issue with meat.

[Tithen 4]

Yeah, I'm sure the boy can handle eating Canadian Beef... It's a pretty good step up from American beef.. he's just going to smother it in that ghastly A1 sauce anyway. It would all be processed foods, unopened etc. It makes me feel better that it shouldn't be a huge problem! I'll be sure that we dispose of our fruits and veggies before we hit the border. I've got a friend requesting some food too... Wonder if I can write that off as a gift? lol. Her husband wants some peanut butter cookies and she wants something called goober...

I was hoping to get a cozy coupe for my little cousin for her birthday, but it costs more than the gift limit and I really don't want to pay duties on it

[Iyawo Ijebu 157]

Yeah, I'm sure the boy can handle eating Canadian Beef... It's a pretty good step up from American beef.. he's just going to smother it in that ghastly A1 sauce anyway. It would all be processed foods, unopened etc. It makes me feel better that it shouldn't be a huge problem! I'll be sure that we dispose of our fruits and veggies before we hit the border. I've got a friend requesting some food too... Wonder if I can write that off as a gift? lol. Her husband wants some peanut butter cookies and she wants something called goober...

I was hoping to get a cozy coupe for my little cousin for her birthday, but it costs more than the gift limit and I really don't want to pay duties on it

Madam, did you know you used the word "ghastly" in the same sentence as A1 sauce ? eh?

Steak is not steak without A1.

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

IF it is process and packaged it should be ok. Avoid things that are live ( veggies , nuts and seeds) and that are newly dead ( like meats)

[Tithen 4]

Madam, did you know you used the word "ghastly" in the same sentence as A1 sauce ? eh?

Steak is not steak without A1.

I hate the stuff. I can't handle the smell. I had to buy a bottle for my husband to put in his lunch box so I could stop putting it in little containers and gagging while doing the dishes. I don't like the Cdn or the USA version, I don't like HP sauce. I'm a bbq sauce on my beef kind of girl. LOL

[hikergirl 277]

There are different regulations for bringing food from Canada than other countries. You are allowed to bring meat from Canada with a few restrictions. https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/82

Canadian Agricultural Products:

For fruits and vegetables from Canada, consult the FAVIR database.

Fruits and vegetables grown in Canada are generally admissible, if they have labels identifying them as products of Canada. Fruits and vegetables merely purchased in Canada are not necessarily admissible, i.e. citrus or tropical fruits such as mangos, which clearly were not grown in Canada because it does not have a climate that supports those crops. (Potatoes from western regions of Canada are currently restricted because of a disease outbreak. While commercial imports are permitted under stringent guidelines, travelers from Canada should avoid bringing raw potatoes with them into the U.S.).

Food products from Canada, including pet food and fresh (frozen or chilled), cooked, canned or otherwise processed products containing beef, veal, bison, and cervid (e.g. deer, elk, moose, caribou etc.) are now permitted from Canada in passenger baggage. Products containing sheep, lamb, or goat will not be allowed entry.

The passenger must provide proof of the origin of beef, pork, poultry, cervid meat, and pet food in order to bring them into the United States. Examples of proof of origin include the grocery store receipt where the product was purchased or the label on the product indicating the province in which it was packaged.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Here is the information sheet showing what foodstuffs can be brought into Canada by travellers from the US. Most of what you list sounds fine, although you will need to declare it. Be sure to say it is for personal use:

http://www.beaware.gc.ca/english/brirape.shtml#a1

[Udella&Wiz 325]

I bring large amounts of groceries back to the US the other way when I visit my parents in Canada. Condiments are high on my list as is Cdn KD.

If it's packaged and not opened you're generally just fine. The US border simply asked what we're bringing back and I say some groceries that we can't get in the USA. They ask if I have fresh vegetable and fruits and sometimes they peak in the back window and then shake their heads at my grocery bags

Items I've brought in the past include:

ketchup

PC jams

PC pancake syrup

cereal

Knorr Alfredo sauce pkgs

Swiss Chalet Sauce

No Name onion rings

PC salad dressings/ sauces

Chips

Krap Dinner

baking items - flour, baking mixes etc

Campbell's soups

V8 Go! juice

other canned items.

I bring a lot of snack items up to my family in Canada - most notably Cheezits

Edited May 7, 2012 by Udella&Wiz

[Tithen 4]

I bring large amounts of groceries back to the US the other way when I visit my parents in Canada. Condiments are high on my list as is Cdn KD.

If it's packaged and not opened you're generally just fine. The US border simply asked what we're bringing back and I say some groceries that we can't get in the USA. They ask if I have fresh vegetable and fruits and sometimes they peak in the back window and then shake their heads at my grocery bags

Items I've brought in the past include:

ketchup

PC jams

PC pancake syrup

cereal

Knorr Alfredo sauce pkgs

Swiss Chalet Sauce

No Name onion rings

PC salad dressings/ sauces

Chips

Krap Dinner

baking items - flour, baking mixes etc

Campbell's soups

V8 Go! juice

other canned items.

I bring a lot of snack items up to my family in Canada - most notably Cheezits

oh you're giving me so many ideas!!!! We might need a bigger trailer.

Everything will be packed in clear plastic containers. I'm assuming since I'm moving my things down from Canada they're going to stop us and poke around, so we are going to make it as easy as possible for them to view what we've got. I'm not looking forward to making that list AT ALL.

My cooking sauce and KD are my two big misses. I'd like to find some deli style honey mustard too... but that was hard to find even when I was living there! Ohh.. and Purity hard bread... hadn't though of that one. I need to make a list!

[GitmeOuttaHere 0]

OMG where do they not have Goober....I find it on both sides of the border here.

Should I plan on taking a stockpile of KD with me?? I didn't realize that they don't have that in the USA. Not that I eat it much anyway. Maybe I could bring it and sell it for a profit...lol

In all seriousness, I am glad someone brought this up because we never gave any thought whatsoever to what food stuffs we might be missing.

Reminds me to bring a few cases of Vernors with me since we can get it here on both sides of the border, but my friends out West in Alberta don't have it and can't get it. lol

[Marilyn. 340]

they do have KD here but it is called Kraft Macaroni and Cheese. but it tastes different. I have gotten used to it though. also Heinz Ketchup tastes different but I have been buying Hunts NO HFCS ketchup which tastes pretty good..

the only things I really miss are McCain frozen cakes (I was shocked when I found out that they don't sell have them down here), pizza pops, alphagetti, cheese whiz (the stuff they call cheese whiz down here is gross ) coffee crisps, Mr Big Bars, All Dressed chips and white freezies that taste like cream soda..

[GitmeOuttaHere 0]

they do have KD here but it is called Kraft Macaroni and Cheese. but it tastes different. I have gotten used to it though. also Heinz Ketchup tastes different but I have been buying Hunts NO HFCS ketchup which tastes pretty good..

the only things I really miss are McCain frozen cakes (I was shocked when I found out that they don't sell have them down here), pizza pops, alphagetti, cheese whiz (the stuff they call cheese whiz down here is gross ) coffee crisps, Mr Big Bars, All Dressed chips and white freezies that taste like cream soda..

OMG the white ones are my fave!!!! Will try and bring a case with us when we go.

[Marilyn. 340]

they do have white freezies here but they aren't cream soda flavoured

[Flames9_RN 358]

I drove to Saskatoon from DC and back last year. On my return going through the POE I was actually pulled aside so the agriculture inspector could look inside my car!! I had just brought back Kraft peanut butter for my wife and they didnt care. To be honest not sure what they were looking for, but you can find the list on the USA customs web page.

One can buy Cdn stuff online, but lot of places really mark it up. Your best to just have family members mail it to u.