Last month, a passenger traveling from Indonesia to Darwin Airport in Australia’s Northern Territory was fined $1,874 after two egg and beef sausage McMuffins — along with a ham croissant — were found in their luggage. (Australian authorities had imposed tough new biosecurity measures on all arrivals after a foot and mouth disease outbreak in Indonesian livestock.)
In the past year alone, US border officials have fined passengers for bringing a wide range of undeclared food items in their luggage, including balut eggs, pork bologna and turkey ham. Border officials conducted “630,150 positive passenger inspections” in 2021, according to statistics for the fiscal year released by US Customs and Border Protection, and issued thousands of penalties and violations to travelers who failed to declare prohibited agriculture items.
Failure to declare food products at US air, sea and land border entry points can lead to fines and penalties of up to $10,000, according to the CBP.
Here’s what you need to know before bringing food products into the US.
Why are some foods not allowed?
Travelers bringing food products into the US can inadvertently introduce foreign pests and food-borne diseases into the country, which can have a devastating effect on agriculture and the environment. And a pest or disease outbreak could impact more than just farmers. It also means higher grocery bills and shortage of some food items for consumers.
Last year, border officials discovered 264 pests at US ports of entry, a slightly higher number than the 250 found the prior year. Pests intercepted last year include a Saunders 1850 butterfly larvae found in pineapples from Costa Rica. The larvae feeds on plants and legumes, and is considered an invasive pest mainly found in Amazonian tropical rainforest. Introducing it in the US ecosystem could be detrimental to the agriculture industry, the CBP said.
“We work closely with the US Department of Agriculture, Animal and Health Inspection Services to prevent the introduction of plant pests and foreign animal diseases,” a CBP spokesperson told CNN.
What food products are not allowed into the country?
Most meat, poultry, milk and egg products are either banned or restricted in the US — with rules depending on the country of origin and what livestock diseases are prevalent in the region.
The United States Department of Agriculture prohibits animal and bird products from countries with reported cases of livestock diseases such as mad cow, foot-and-mouth, avian flu and swine fever. The USDA provides a link where travelers can check common animal diseases in specific countries.
Sometimes, there are gray areas. Pork products from Mexico are banned, for example, but a small amount for personal use — like a ham sandwich — may be allowed at land borders if the meat is thoroughly cooked.
What food products can you bring?
A long list of food items are allowed into the US, including condiments, cooking oils, bread, cookies, crackers, cakes, cereal, packed tea and other baked and processed products. The CBP provides a list of allowed items on its website.
But there’s a catch: If a traveler brings over 50 pounds of an item, it’s considered a commercial shipment and must undergo additional measures, including extra safety inspections. And every agricultural food item has to be declared on US Customs forms, so inspectors can examine them and ensure they do not carry harmful foreign pests or diseases.
“The declaration must cover all items carried in checked baggage, carry-on luggage or in a vehicle,” the CBP’s website notes.
Can you bring in fruits or vegetables?
The short answer is no.
Nearly all fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables are prohibited from entering the US due to risks of pests and diseases — some of which can survive in frigid temperatures, according to the US Department of Agriculture. Even the fruits and vegetable snacks provided on an airplane or cruise ship should be left behind, says Lucero Hernandez of the federal Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
Travelers crossing a land border into the United States from Canada can bring some fresh fruits and vegetables — as long as they were grown in Canada. But they need proof that the produce is free of soil, pests, and diseases, and that it was grown in Canada, not just sold there, the USDA says.
And in all cases, travelers coming to the US should save receipts and original packaging to prove food products’ country of origin, according to the CBP.
What happens if you bring forbidden items?
Travelers who declare agricultural products in their luggage don’t face penalties — even if an inspector concludes the items are not eligible to enter the country, the USDA says. In such cases, the food is destroyed.
“An apple or snack that can mistakenly be brought won’t always make a significant incident,” the CBP spokesperson explained of an unintentional failure to declare a food item. “However, attempting to bring in prohibited items would lead to traveler delays and may result in a fine.”
“Failure to declare a prohibited food item may result in the issuance of a civil penalty,” the spokesperson added.
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