travelling to the USA

[chokkie]

Does anyone out there know what the current rules are for taking foodstuffs into the USA? We would like to take some posh chocolates from the UK to give to our American cousins when we visit them next month. I was just about to order some online when I thought about the fact that the USA border people are a bit paranoid about having foodstuffs brought into the US. So haven't got them just yet, pending some up to date advice.

Hope someone can help, many thanks, Chox.

[heathfield]

According to some blogs, folk have had their chocolates taken from them at Los Angeles, which is strange, since the US London Embassy says chocolates are allowed. (See sixth item on link below). Best advice seems to be to put them in your hold luggage. Maybe you should print ot the Embassy's list and take it with you!

http://london.usembassy.gov/ukcustom.html

[heathfield]

^^^
'ot' = out!

[237SJ]

You`ll probably be fine. Just make sure you declare them. They seriously don`t like finding things (if they rummage you) that haven`t been declared. I take porridge oats and UHT milk into the States all the time. They might ask if they have nuts in but still, if it`s declared you`ll probably be OK.

[spudqueen]

I have taken tea bags, maltesers, battenburg cake, parma violets, haribo sweets and uncle joes mint balls in to the States with no problems. I did declare them on the customs form.

[chokkie]

Thank you sooo much everyone, your help is much appreciated, and I've printed out those US embassy guidelines to take with. I didn't want to cough up a lot of dosh on posh chox and then get them confiscated. I would have been very cross and OH would probably have been even more so! Cheers, Chox.

[sunny-dave]

^^^ yoda's back ^^^