Taking Food to The USA

[rosiew]

I know it may seem a little odd, my brother is going to the US at the end of December to stay with friends, they have asked him to take some packaged meat with him that they cannot get over there. Is this allowed. Thanks in advance

[888sally888]

I just used google and the answer is no.

[rosiew]

Gosh, that was quick 888sally888. I will pass that onto him. Thanks

[plautus]

Personally I would risk it. The worst that could happen is that it is confiscated if discovered.

[plautus]

We seem to have word processing issues since the update.

[rosiew]

If he did risk it, WILL it just be confiscated or will he get in trouble.

[AlwaysConfused]

Probably confiscate it if found at this end, but wouldn't be too sure about the repercussions in another country

[naomi24]

I think it will simply be confiscated. I've been on flights to the US where the cabin crew have asked if anyone has any meat products with them - and they have taken it and disposed of it there and then.

[dzug2]

If it is discovered by US customs and you haven't declared it, there is the potential for a fine of up to $1000 If you declare it to them and they decide it'd not admissable then it's just confiscated - no penalty https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/82/~/travelers-bringing-food-into-the-u.s.-for-personal-use may help - some types of meat may be admissable

[rosiew]

This would be going in his suitcase not his hand luggage, would this make a difference.

[dzug2]

It makes not the slightest difference whether it's hand or hold luggage No one this end will care at all - it's the US authorities who will show an interest. You get a form on the plane that asks this (and other) questions.

[woofgang]

the answer is not just no but hell no. Carrying most unprocessed foodstuffs into the US is definitely banned, even a snack for personal use. Personally I wouldn't fancy eating meat that had travelled for so long out of refrigeration anyway. Out of interest, what meat are they asking for?

[Mosaic]

What kind of meat can exist that can't be bought in the USA?
Is it corned monkey, or bushbaby nuggets?

[237SJ]

Trust me it won't just be confiscated. He'll be fined and getting on the wrong side of US customs is not a good idea as they're obnoxious enough already.

[spudqueen]

I'm with woofgang here.
http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/id_visa/arriving_travelers.xml

[rosiew]

It was sausage and bacon. They say they cannot get a decent sausage or rasher of bacon in the US. I will tell him NOT to do it. Thanks everyone for your replies.

[boxtops]

If you ever watch some of those customs programmes (admittedly Australia not US) people get into huge trouble for carrying banned food into the country. Don't think about it. If he wants it that much, it might be worth considering mail order from some of the specialist meat providers - they would know if they can get round the restrictions.

[mikey4444]

I wouldn't try taking ANYTHING into the US that might be suspect. I took Walls sausages in to Boston about 15 years ago and due to the 10 layers of cling film that I wrapped them into, it was OK. But I heard horror stories afterwards about might have happened if I had been caught. US Airport officials are not known for being forgiving, especially after 9/11.

Its unbelievable that bacon and sausages can't be bought in the US...Somebody, somewhere MUST be making "link sausages" Try asking for Canadian Bacon which is similar to ours. Yankie bacon has the appearance and texture of Bakelite.

[Eve]

Canadian bacon is nicer.

Definitely don't get on the wrong side of US immigration. Just watching some of the border control programmes you see on TV show how much trouble (often financial) people can get into for bringing certain things in and not declaring them.

What kind of a state would sausages and bacon be in by the time they got through two airports and the flight itself? I wouldn't have thought they would have been safe to eat?

[Eve]

I googled "British bacon in the USA" and looks like there are some suppliers around the US. Can't say how good they are but might be a better way for his friends to try.

[pusskin]

We watch all the border control programmes, so no---no way .
far too risky!