Food, crossing border, flying?

[CdnMom2]

Sorry, I've confused myself on the latest can's & can'ts. Can I now bring our own food onto the plane as long as it is not a gel?
So our granola bars are OK? Drinks?

I know I can't take meat, fruit, vegs over border in car. Can dried fruit, nuts, e.g. Trail Mix go? Juice boxes? Cheese? Then can it go on the plane with us!? Ooops scratch that -- I guess nuts are a no no in public now.

Thanks for any answers. Going squirelly packing here as it is.

 

[SandraC]

Juice boxes...no ~ there are liquid.

I packed two boxes of granola bars and brought them on the plane in March. S

 

[cdnmickeylover]

Any type of a liquid is a no-no through security at the airport. You can purchase drinks once you are past security athough it's a bit pricey. Granola bars etc. are fine but no meat, dairy, veggies through the border either. As long as it's prepackaged it's fine through the border. So while bringing healthy foods is a bit tough to cross the border with -- most junk food is fine.

Fiona

 

[CdnMom2]

Thanks for the replies. You think you know it all, but then when it gets right down to packing the actual items for the 4 hour drive, crossing border, hanging at airport, then the flight & any possible delays for the 5 of us (including Diabetic DD who needs her sugars) -- well, gotta double check with the experts on here!

Have granola bar, will travel has always been our motto! So thanks for the good news.

 

[snowangel72]

We just got back last night. On the way there at the Buffalo airport we took tons and tons of food in our carry ons, no liquids. On the way back at the Orlando airport they took all of it away from us. I guess it depends on the airport?

 

[dancin Disney style]

We just got back last night. On the way there at the Buffalo airport we took tons and tons of food in our carry ons, no liquids. On the way back at the Orlando airport they took all of it away from us. I guess it depends on the airport?

I find security at MCO much, much different that at BUF. MCO is different than a lot of other airports as well.

It may also depend on who is doing the checks at MCO. I have been through there with a ziploc full of powdered donuts, among other things, and it was not taken from me. It could also depend on the security level at that time.

 

[Niagara2]

Opposite question here....We are spending week at Sherkston Shores and traveling across border from the US. I need to have food for the week. What can I bring? Will I have to get all. fruit and milk once I am there?

I see so many Canadians grocery shopping at Tops and Wegmans. Are you only buying packaged dry items?

Everything is so different at the border with the exchange at 5% vs. 40%! We are glad to have you here!

 

[amw]

Any type of a liquid is a no-no through security at the airport. You can purchase drinks once you are past security athough it's a bit pricey. Granola bars etc. are fine but no meat, dairy, veggies through the border either. As long as it's prepackaged it's fine through the border. So while bringing healthy foods is a bit tough to cross the border with -- most junk food is fine.

Fiona

On our trip both to and from California, we had those mini-juice boxes (extra small ones) in the required ziploc bag, and we had no problem going through. I also had the apple sauce tubes from Loblaws also in the same ziploc bag. Never had a problem at either airport (YYZ or SAN).

I also brought fruit roll-ups, granola bars, raisins, packaged muffins -- it was a LONG flight. As for the nut issue -- I was surprised by how it was a non-issue on the US. Most places have peanut butter on the kids menu, and they don't care at all about "traces of nuts". Of course, it's always better to not carry it if you can in case there are young children with allergies on the plane -- but it's nto a requirement.

 

[wannago2disney]

Opposite question here....We are spending week at Sherkston Shores and traveling across border from the US. I need to have food for the week. What can I bring? Will I have to get all. fruit and milk once I am there?

I see so many Canadians grocery shopping at Tops and Wegmans. Are you only buying packaged dry items?

Everything is so different at the border with the exchange at 5% vs. 40%! We are glad to have you here!

We grocery shop in us all the time....bring your milk with you...our milk is much more expensive. and cheese too. we don't usually bring back fruit or veg because we prefer to use our local farmers market for those items. chips, pop, cereals and other snack foods tend to be a little less expensive in US (we are talking Michigan wal mart compared to ontario wal mart). As for meat, I have heard of people bringing meat back with out a problem...I guess it would depend on how far you are travelling and how comfortable you are about your storage situation...we usually stick with the boxed items and milk, and cheese for the most part....as for alcohol, I am not sure what the rules for US citizens bringing in alcohol are.
There is a section on the canada customs website about what you can bring back to canada...I would assume that the rules for the food items that are listed would also pertain to americans bringing food in as well.
Hope you have a great trip

 

[ottawamom]

I packed a suitcase full of stuff when we went down in May. Cereal, fruit leathers, granola bars, pringle chips, drink powders, gum. It all made it to Florida without incident. We only brought home a few granola bars and fruit leathers so we didn't have problems in MCO.