Bringing food into the US

[Christopher5927]

The last time we flew into Sanford we were stopped by Customs and our baggage inspected. I had filled out the white customs form and answered all the questions truthfully. The customs officer took great exception to the fact that we had tea bags, coffee (in little sachets) and fruit and nut bars in our cases. Although he didn't confiscate it, he let us know that he didn't think we should have it. He said "If it goes in your mouth it goes on this form". I honestly don't know where I would put that information on the white custom form. I thought this was a bit high handed, but wanted to get on with my holiday so just apologised and we were allowed to go. Looking at various websites since, I think that HE was wrong. Can any of you kind people advise? Returning to WDW in 3 weeks' time!

 

[2Tiggies]

No, he wasn't wrong. I declare EVERYTHING. The white form asks if you have ANY food items. Tea bags and snack bars are consumables and therefore, in my opinion, food. Although I can understand where your logic comes from (and you are by no means the exception) I have always had the approach that I would rather declare too much than too little. They are very, very strict in the US. Perhaps I had the advantage of having made many trips in and out of the US which helped, but he is not wrong. Just because the US permits you to bring certain edible items in, does not exempt you from declaring them.

I'm glad you didn't have any serious inconvenience from the experience and hope you had a fantastic holiday

 

[Elise79]

As 2Tiggies said you need to declare it on the form as it is food.

Here is a sample US Customs form if you look at question 11 part a, it asks if you are bringing ANY "Fruits, vegetables, Plants, seeds, food, insects"

We take tea bags and chocolates and always declare by ticking yes. As we have declared we never had any trouble from the Customs officers

 

[darthtatty]

I know what you mean, Ive seen on loads of websites people say dont bother declaring squash/sweets/teas etc.
However as already mentioned-its states do you have any food.
you declared no- so you didnt answer the question truthfully.
He was totally in the right.

you are allowed to take the items but make sure you declare them.
tick yes on the form, theyll just ask what you have and then there will be no problem.

Have a great holiday, so jealous.

 

[Christopher5927]

Thanks for all your advice. I suppose it is me being thick, but for the 20+ previous trips I always ticked 'no' because (although I do know they are a technically plant products) I always classed coffee and tea differently. I thought they were asking about whole fruit, veg etc. Thank you all again; I'll not getting into trouble this time!

 

[darthtatty]

dont worry
they do list items but I always take notice of the fact that it asks 'ANY'

Better to be safe than sorry.

 

[disneyholic family]

no matter what you have, if it's food of any kind (candy, chocolate, sweets, gum, coffee, tea, bisquits, cereal, etc etc etc etc), mark YES on the form where it asks if you're bringing in food.

You have to say yes, no matter what it is.

He could have fined you a HUGE amount of money had he wanted to.

He could have fined you $10,000 for not declaring that food. so say YES on that form, no matter what you're carrying.

If you say yes, and you have something that isn't permitted they'll just take it away from you.

But if you say no and you have something that's not permitted, they'll throw the book at you.

one time, there was a woman in front of me, traveling alone with her 4 children. She had put an orange that was served on the plane, into her purse to give to her son later in the flight and then forgot it there.

The customs officers were none too polite to her. It was an honest mistake and you would have thought she was a major al queda terrorist.

one time i completely forgot that i was flying into the US instead of canada (where the rules are somewhat different).
I had salami with me. i remembered it on the plane so of course i checked "YES" on the form and when i got to the customs officer i told him that i had salami.
So they sent us over to another desk where these two customs officers dressed in hazmat outfits, took the salamis out of the suitcase and dropped them into what looked like a bomb disposal tank. Funniest thing i ever saw.

But the point is, since i had checked "YES" on the form, nothing happened. No fines, no warnings nothing. They just took it away from me. No big deal.

 

[Tinkerbell1989]

Are we talking about hand luggage, or main luggage? Flying to Orlando in October for the first time alone, well, with DBF (previous times Mum and Dad have been in charge!)

xx

 

[disneyholic family]

Are we talking about hand luggage, or main luggage? Flying to Orlando in October for the first time alone, well, with DBF (previous times Mum and Dad have been in charge!)

xx

it doesn't matter where you're carrying it - if you have any food at all with you, you must check YES on the form.

whether it's in your carry on or luggage doesn't matter.

 

[catherine]

On our last trip we were pulled for an inspection of our suitcases. When DH asked them what specifically they were looking for the guy said OXO cubes!!!! He said that you wouldn't believe the number of Brits that try to take in OXO cubes!!

 

[paulh]

On our last trip we were pulled for an inspection of our suitcases. When DH asked them what specifically they were looking for the guy said OXO cubes!!!! He said that you wouldn't believe the number of Brits that try to take in OXO cubes!!

as source of mad cows apparently
Paul

 

[Disneynutinlondon]

as source of mad cows apparently
Paul

 

[paulh]

we were petrified a few years ago,both out kids have had the human form of foot and mouth,and when there was an outbreak in the uk,thought it would be asked.but all they asked was have we visited a farm in the last month,if we had no entry
Paul

 

[Disneynutinlondon]

Please don't take my laughing the wrong way.

I know mad cow and foot and mouth are both terrible diseases and my DH suffers badly whenever there is an outbreak out as he users a lot of fresh meat in his cafe. Its just the thought of the US customs men checking all the brits suitcases for oxo cubes when there are so many other horrible things that could be brought in.

 

[gemma85]

Please don't take my laughing the wrong way.

I know mad cow and foot and mouth are both terrible diseases and my DH suffers badly whenever there is an outbreak out as he users a lot of fresh meat in his cafe. Its just the thought of the US customs men checking all the brits suitcases for oxo cubes when there are so many other horrible things that could be brought in.

I don't think an oxo cube would be my choice of food item to take to a different country :-/

 

[Tinkerbell1989]

it doesn't matter where you're carrying it - if you have any food at all with you, you must check YES on the form.

whether it's in your carry on or luggage doesn't matter.

Really? Wow, okay thankyou! I don't think we've ever declared anything on previous trips! I'll be sure to take extra care on October - or just not pack any food items!

Steffi x

 

[Mummycat]

Sorry being a bit dense but does this mean that as long as I declare on the white form that I have a few tea bags and a pasta sauce packet (kids!) in my suitcase that they won't necessarily confiscate it? Or is it more of a matter of which customs officer we get? Thanks cat xx

 

[queendisney]

Sorry being a bit dense but does this mean that as long as I declare on the white form that I have a few tea bags and a pasta sauce packet (kids!) in my suitcase that they won't necessarily confiscate it? Or is it more of a matter of which customs officer we get? Thanks cat xx

You have to declare it so that they can decide whether or not its on the band list. You will be fine with the packet of pasta sauce and the tea bags..

 

[Mummycat]

You have to declare it so that they can decide whether or not its on the band list. You will be fine with the packet of pasta sauce and the tea bags..

Ha ha thanks got to have the back up plan!

 

[tink too]

On one of our first trips to Florida (about 30 years ago) the guy in front of us had milk - in glass bottles!

Even after all this time, I still remember the customs guy's reaction. He disappeared for a while, returned with the empty bottles and offered them to the man now holding up the queue. Then, total stoney faced, he said "do you think we don't have cows in America?