Bringing snacks home

[queenie82]

When BF came into Sydney he brought a small slice of fruit cake that he'd gotten from a meeting that was prepackaged. You know those individually packaged about 6x6cm? That caterers have.
The doggie smelt it in the bag but he didn't get into trouble as he had declared. And it wasn't confiscated either as it was a commercially prepared package.
He was a bit miffed as it was the only thing he dared bring...lol...but there was no problem.

 

[miss.potatohead]

We brought back boxes and boxes of lollies and chocolates as gifts for friends (which we ended up eating ourselves, whoops!) - we declared food products and it was fine. We even had cold/flu medicine because we were getting sick towards the end of the trip, and they didn't even question us about it...

 

[Mum from oz]

We've brought back heaps of foodstuffs and like everyone said, just declare it.
The only thing we've had confiscated is ranch dressing. It was explained to us that things with a certain percentage of egg wan't allowed and as the packaging said there was egg in the ingredients but not how much they took ot.

Has anyone noticed you can't buy any decent ranch here in the supermarkets?

 

[dabecs]

We've brought back heaps of foodstuffs and like everyone said, just declare it.
The only thing we've had confiscated is ranch dressing. It was explained to us that things with a certain percentage of egg wan't allowed and as the packaging said there was egg in the ingredients but not how much they took ot.

We had this same problem coming from Ireland - we brought back Hellman's hamburger sauce (tastes like a liquid big mac - so good on a burger) and also 'chip shop curry sauce' (which as the name suggests is for putting on hot chips) and both contain egg but didn't say the amounts so were confiscated

 

[Snickals]

I brought food into America (cereal, snack bars etc.) and then food (lollies, cookies, snacks ect.) home with me. Declared both times and not once got checked by customs, not to say I won't next time I guess I was just lucky I got to clear through both points quickly. But like everyone says declare declare declare

 

[austraveler]

We've brought back heaps of foodstuffs and like everyone said, just declare it.
The only thing we've had confiscated is ranch dressing. It was explained to us that things with a certain percentage of egg wan't allowed and as the packaging said there was egg in the ingredients but not how much they took ot.

Has anyone noticed you can't buy any decent ranch here in the supermarkets?

Paul Newman's ranch ( at coles and woolies) is not bad....

 

[BecBennett]

We took McCormicks (or was it masterfood's?) Tuscan seasoning over to the US for DH's step mum, she misses it a lot, and wont let us come without a couple of jars

We've never had a problem with it, and like everyone else has said, if in doubt just declare it and see how you go!

 

[Feej]

We've never had any problem except for the time they asked to look in our suitcase because customs thought we had beef jerky, but it was twizzlers.....

 

[Willow25]

As an american living in OZ we bring in a lot of food when we return.

No meat products
You can bring in products with egg but it has to be miniscule in amount
Spices have always been okay if sealed
no nuts unless in lollies or chocolate
no popcorn

RANCH is aweful in Australia what we do is buy the powdered hidden valley ranch packets from the states. It says to use milk but I highly recommend buttermilk and make sure you use the whole egg mayonaise that is thick. Makes great ranch.

The other option which we have always brought through customs is the ranch packets from Jack in the Box. Not enough egg to cause an issue and we have had customs have a look every time.

The first time we came through customs we actually got them to approve a box of cinnabons. I doubt they would get through now though!!

 

[Snickals]

Willow25...no popcorn!? Does it matter if it's popped? I would never have thought of that one...

 

[Willow25]

You can bring in already popped popcorn. But no raw seeds!! We tried to bring in kettle popcorn and some Orville Redenbachers caramel but both were confiscated.

Last time we had about 10 huge suitcases/bags and two kids in strollers. Luckily luggage services helped us out and they did not make us go through the x-ray's as I was able to say, "no meat, no popcorn, no egg products, just lollies and snacks". It was funny because he then reiterated that, that includes beef jerky. It made me wonder if people try to claim that beef jerky is not meat.