What kind of food am I allowed to bring back into the united states?

[ElFenix]

https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/de...-bringing-food-into-the-u.s.-for-personal-use

 

[D1gger]

We just came back from a trip to Hawaii last week, and we took the following into the US with no problem:

Cookies
Crackers
Instant Noodle
Pasta
Canned Pasta Sauce

Just make sure you tell them about it, as they get quite nasty if they find out after the fact.

 

[ElFenix]

nm

 

[gorcorps]

nm

Figured out he meant from Canada didn't you? I thought the same thing when I read that first sentence.

We just came back from a trip to Hawaii last week, and we took the following into the US with no problem

 

[TecHNooB]

My parents and relatives have brought all kinds of food from taiwan.

 

[takeru]

i previously worked with an international airline stationed in jfk airport, and have seen a lot of different things being stopped at customs. from what i have seen, dried foods seemed to be allowed. though the exact items allowed seem to vary per customs agent.

one time, a cambodian woman was traveling with several large suitcases. one of which weighing around 45kg when opened contained nothing but dried giant grasshoppers. the kind the size of your thumb. watching the customs guy's reaction was just lol. the customs guy pretty much says, wtf is this?! she takes one of the giant grasshoppers and calmly says, "don't worry, its food" and proceeds to eat it in front of him. and you know what? they let her take her bag and continue on out.

 

[LiuKangBakinPie]

Biltong?

 

[Anonemous]

i previously worked with an international airline stationed in jfk airport, and have seen a lot of different things being stopped at customs. from what i have seen, dried foods seemed to be allowed. though the exact items allowed seem to vary per customs agent.

one time, a cambodian woman was traveling with several large suitcases. one of which weighing around 45kg when opened contained nothing but dried giant grasshoppers. the kind the size of your thumb. watching the customs guy's reaction was just lol. the customs guy pretty much says, wtf is this?! she takes one of the giant grasshoppers and calmly says, "don't worry, its food" and proceeds to eat it in front of him. and you know what? they let her take her bag and continue on out.

At least it wasn't fried tarantula...

 

[gevorg]

just stuff any food you want into cuban cigars, no one will notice

 

[Svnla]

OP, aren't you in China? I am currently in Asia right now. Wanna set up the first ever ATOTer meet in Asia?

IIRC, you are allowed to bring in 200 cigarettes and a small bottle of wine (1 liter or less) without any tax/fee.

 

[janas19]

The official website says:

Restricted items include meats, fruits, vegetables, plants, soil, and products made from animal or plant materials.

uhhhh.... Anything made from plants or animals.... That's EVERYTHING. WTF?

OP there's a workaround for this. If the food is packaged and has a reasonable shelf life (in other words if it's not a reasonable health risk since it has been processed and preserved) just put it in your bag/bags and declare it as a gift. Last time I went out of the country, you could bring up to $500 in gifts without declaring them. It's on the declaration form so it's legit.

Basically, they just don't want anything that's alive that could bring macro or microscopic bugs. Use common sense.

 

[LiuKangBakinPie]

anything you want if you got a diplomatic bag to put it in

 

[janas19]

anything you want if you got a diplomatic bag to put it in

I wish I had a diplomatic bag!

 

[zinfamous]

We just came back from a trip to Hawaii last week, and we took the following into the US with no problem:

not sure if serious...

Oh sorry, lol. the wording is really bad, btw.

 

[sonambulo]

That's what I'm saying. The original "products made from animal or plant materials" restriction given in the OP from this link

cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/id_visa/arriving_travelers.xml

Is retarded at best.

Nah, it's not retarded. It is intentionally worded broadly so that questionable items can be rejected without argument. We all know that people are going to try and bend the rules so a broad policy gives the feds some leeway.

You're not going to have any trouble bringing back processed, pre-packaged foods.

We just came back from a trip to Hawaii last week, and we took the following into the US with no problem:

 

[LiuKangBakinPie]

I wish I had a diplomatic bag!

Israeli's once put a nigerian in one and tried to kidnap him out of England.

 

[janas19]

Israeli's once put a nigerian in one and tried to kidnap him out of England.

Smh. Lol.

 

[guyver01]

none

/thread

Restricted items include meats, fruits, vegetables, plants, soil, and products made from animal or plant materials.

uhhhh.... Anything made from plants or animals.... That's EVERYTHING.

see.. you answered your own question

 

[HybridSquirrel]

You're allowed 1 carton of cigs and 1 bottle of booze duty free through customs.
You are not allowed to bring any Cuban cigars.

I can bring a bottle of booze duty free back into the USA? Fucking. Sweet.

 

[LiuKangBakinPie]

What kind of food am I allowed to bring back into the united states?

There's nothing mentioned about legally in the thread topic.

 

[Pliablemoose]

Customs will be very distracted by your stuffed animals in your luggage, you should be able to stuff a ton of contraband in various orifices and get away with it.

 

[LiuKangBakinPie]

Customs will be very distracted by your stuffed animals in your luggage, you should be able to stuff a ton of contraband in various orifices and get away with it.

Dogs sniff it out. Best way is to find a couple of illegal immigrants to act as couriers. Otherwise enter the USA via Mexico.

 

[Gintaras]

Field rats from central Thailand.... They don't look to good but believe me they taste great!!

http://www.dpreview.com/challenges/Entry.aspx?ID=233918

 

[Gintaras]

 

[richardycc]

just goto the post office and ship them back home. why even bother to carry them home?