Taking previously pre-packaged food across border (FLying)

[ottawamom]

Taking off for WDW on Saturday. My MIL wants to take Bran Flakes and Cheerios with her but she doesn't want to take the whole box. She thinks it's ok to just put them into a container and pack it in her carryon.

Does anyone have experience doing this? We will be flying. I am under the impression that the food must be commercially prepared in its original packaging.

Help!

 

[dancin Disney style]

I seriously doubt that cereal would be a problem. I would take it without even batting an eye. I always take food with me. Last month I had tea bags (in a Ziploc bag), muffins that I had baked and frozen, a block of cheese, some pepperettes(in a Ziploc bag), oranges and apples. I also had a frozen 1 litre carton of milk which I used to keep the cheese cold. I will take what ever I want with the knowledge that if customs wants to take it away they will. Though, there isn't that much they care about. I make sure that the origin labels are on my fruit and that it's Canadian or American.

 

[FigmentSpark]

Yeah, the cereal runs more risk of being crushed than confiscated. Maybe pack the ziplocs of cereal in an old takeout container so they don't get crushed. It's meats and fruits they don't like you to take into the U.S., I think.

 

[ottawamom]

Thanks, I knew I'd get opinions here.

 

[dancin Disney style]

I agree the cereal will get crushed. You will need some sort of hard sided container. If you have nothing at home pick up something from the dollar store.

 

[SteveMouse]

Definitely don't bring fruit. Uncooked meat and dairy are also probably ill advised.

 

[Days In the Sun]

I took Cheerios is April but I took the whole box. Box says product of the USA, it won't be a problem lol. Package or not, I wouldn't be worried. I bought mine at Sobeys for the airmiles

I also took Tim Horton's Tassimo coffee to Germany in March in my carryon. Quite worried that time, I wouldn't have tried without the sealed packaging.

 

[dancin Disney style]

Definitely don't bring fruit. Uncooked meat and dairy are also probably ill advised.

Fruit is generally fine as long as the origin labels are attached and it comes from Canada or USA. I cross the boarder a lot and they hardly ever ask if I have food. Like maybe once ever 25 times or less. When they did ask they asked if I had specific things. Once it was tomatoes and another time it was strawberries. When flying I've never once been asked and there is always food in my checked bag and carry on.

 

[SteveMouse]

Here is US custom's guidance: https://www.cbp.gov/travel/clearing-cbp/bringing-agricultural-products-united-states

Also see http://www.freshfromflorida.com/Div.../Citrus-Quarantine-and-Disease-Detection-Maps

 

[ottawamom]

Thanks everyone for all the info. I think she's going to put the cereal into tupperware containers. If they take it at the border so be it, but based on all the reports she should be good.

 

[squirrel]

Coffee, will probably get your bags searched. It was either the coffee or the individual ziplock bags of Tide laundry soap that got my bags searched. I now have Purex all in one sheets that I use for travelling. Haven't taken coffee since that one time.

 

[FigmentSpark]

Yeah, we brought cereal with us. Can I suggest, though, use something other than tupperware, unless you have things you'd put in the tupperware once the cereal is done. I used takeout plastic containers because I didn't care about them and didn't mind throwing them away, rather than hauling them home again. She probably won't want to throw out her tupperware. Another idea might be to put it in portioned ziplocks, then into an old kleenex box to help protect it.

 

[ottawamom]

I'm actually going to transfer them to ziplock bags when we get there. The tupperware containers become their cereal bowl and they will put socks etc in them to come home.

 

[FigmentSpark]

Good thinking about the socks.

 

[ixmnrs]

Just one warning, if you go through NEXUS, you must declare you are bringing food (and that could also include candy, gum, etc.) or if they stop you and find it, they can give you a hard time and take away your Nexus.