Taking chocolate to USA - LAX airport?

socks_uk

I've already asked about taking food into USA (and thanks for the replies) but someone at work told me her friend had all his chocolate taken from him at Los Angeles Airport. Seeing as most of what my sister wants me to take over when we visit is chocolate related, has anyone had this happen to them.

I was directed to a website but it isn't too specific about 'prepared food'.

Food Products (Prepared)
You may bring bakery items and certain cheeses into the United States. The APHIS Web site features a Travelers Tips section and Game and Hunting Trophies section that offers extensive information about bringing food and other products into the U.S. Many prepared foods are admissible. However, bush meat made from African wildlife and almost anything containing meat products, such as bouillon, soup mixes, etc., is not admissible. As a general rule, condiments, vinegars, oils, packaged spices, honey, coffee and tea are admissible. Because rice can often harbor insects, it is best to avoid bringing it into the United States. Some imported foods are also subject to requirements of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.


The last sentence sort of gives them a license to confiscate whatever they want. Any help is greatly appreciated.

dmg24

Someone in the same queue as me had chocolate taken off them whilst waiting for immigration at LAX. They thought that the nice doggy was just being friendly when nuzzling into their dog ... until the not so nice lady asked to see in the bag!

Is your sister aware that there is a very good English shop in Santa Monica?

Mich81

Are you flying to LAX directly?

I went a couple of years ago, and had chocolate in my hand luggage that I'd not eaten on the plane (didn't cross my mind it wouldn't be allowed into the country) but flew into Chicago O Hare first who didn't mention foods at all - then changed for an internal flight to LAX and as I'd gone through immigration at Chicago and it was an internal flight landing didn't see 1 person in LAX to even check passports.

kalaika

AFAIK, taking sweets into the USA is fine but dairy products are not. I don't know which chocolate is classed as (it *may* be classed as a dairy product due to the milk content). It might depend on how over zealous the customs poeple are being when you arrive.

Having said that, I have taken Cadbury's chocolate there before (to the USA but not through LAX), and as long as it is in the hold luggage I've never had a problem. May just be easier to do the same.

gedebage

Put in your check-in luggage and walk through the green channel. You should be fine

socks_uk

I've been to America a few times before when my sister lived in Connecticut (flying into JFK) and never had problems. I don't want to get myself or my daughter into trouble - we'll be splitting all my sister's 'goodies' between us.

We're actually flying with Air Canada from Heathrow via Toronto. It's just a lot of money to spend (at least £100's worth of chocolate and chocolate biscuits as well as other stuff too) for it to be taken off us.

I'm still studying the 'Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection's' website to get a clearer indication about chocolate. What the heck could be the potential threat in chocolate?

duchy

I always take chocolate to the US as gifts as American chocolate is rank and have never had a problem with it in checked luggage in what must be at least ten trips in the last 4 years.

Backbiter

gedebage wrote: »

Put in your check-in luggage and walk through the green channel. You should be fine

and cross your fingers that taking chocolate into the USA in your checked luggage is not classed as 'moral turpitude.:rolleyes:

dzug1

gedebage wrote: »

Put in your check-in luggage and walk through the green channel. You should be fine

There isn't a green channel - everyone goes through the same route and hands in a written declaratiion of what they have/don't have.

ferf1223

this lists chocolate as OK...given that it's the US embassy in the UK's website, I would take it as a given that it's fine.

http://www.usembassy.org.uk/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 souve

jenny_f

We had this problem in 2008 - can we take it/can't we etc!

We took several big bars of galaxy chocolate from Manchester to San Francisco via Ne York and LA and it was fine!

HTH