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Taking food into USA

Hi,

When I go the States, I want to take over some food such as Marmite, xmas pudding, shortbread biscuits etc. I can't seem to find out if they prohibit the carriage of certain foods into the USA. They used to use dogs to sniff out any fruit on you!
I also want to take over some Christmas Crackers, but don't know if they'll class them as explosives over there!
Can anyone help?

Thanks

Comments

  • Tojo_Ralph
    Tojo_Ralph Posts: 8,373 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    See link below for information. :)

    http://london.usembassy.gov/ukcust1.html

    What kind of food products can I bring to the U.S.?

    Food, Plant, and Animal Products
    General List of Approved Products

    This list covers products from all areas except Canada, Mexico, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
    Bamboo - dried poles only
    Beads made of seeds - (but not jequirity beans)
    Breads, cakes, cookies, and other bakery goods
    Candies, confectionery, chocolates
    Cheeses - fully cured hard cheese only
    Coconuts - (but husks or milk must be removed)
    Coffee - roasted beans only
    Dried foods - including polished rice, beans, and tea
    Fish
    Flower bulbs (*)
    Flowers (*)
    Fruits - canned or dried products only
    Herbarium plants - (but not witchweed)
    Herbs - dried, for medicinal use
    Mushrooms
    Nuts - (but not chestnuts or acorns or nuts with outer husks)
    Sauces - canned or processed
    Seaweed
    Seeds - (but not avocado, bamboo, barberry, coconuts, corn, cotton, currant, elm, hibiscus, lentil, mahonia, mango, pearl millet, potato, rice, sorghum, and wheat)
    Shamrocks - without root or soil
    Soup and soup mixes - (but not those containing meat)
    Spices - dried (but not curry leaves)
    Straw animals, hats, baskets, and other souvenirs - (but not items stuffed with straw)
    Vegetables - canned or processed


    * Check with the U.S. Department of Agriculture at www.aphis.usda.gov regarding Plant Protection and Quarantine Permits . A phytosanitary certificate is required for propagative material.
    The MSE Dictionary
    Loophole - A word used to entice people to read clearly written Terms and Conditions.
    Rip Off - Clearly written Terms and Conditions.
    Terms and Conditions - Otherwise known as a loophole or a rip off.
  • steveo3002
    steveo3002 Posts: 2,731 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    its mainly meat and fruit you cannot take, i think the marmite and shortbread will be no probs , weve taken lots of sweets and biscuits etc with no probs

    id not take the xmas crackers tho , might be asking for trouble

    edit ...too slow lol
  • Tojo_Ralph
    Tojo_Ralph Posts: 8,373 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    I also want to take over some Christmas Crackers, but don't know if they'll class them as explosives over there!
    It's not over there that I would have thought that you would have had a problem, it's the explosives issue and the flight, so I am pretty confident that Christmas Crackers would be a No, No :)

    That said, it does not stop you buying them online in the USA for delivery in the USA or buying ones online you fill yourself and fill them with unique gifts when you get there? :)

    http://www.christmas-crackers-usa.com/cracker-components.htm
    The MSE Dictionary
    Loophole - A word used to entice people to read clearly written Terms and Conditions.
    Rip Off - Clearly written Terms and Conditions.
    Terms and Conditions - Otherwise known as a loophole or a rip off.
  • Amys
    Amys Posts: 919 Forumite
    I've been Money Tipped!
    Christmas crackers are definitely no, unless they have the 'snap' removed.
  • A few years ago I posted crackers out there, can't do it now of course.... :(
    Blackpool_Saver is female, and does not live in Blackpool

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