Can you bring food to New York in your luggage?

Before bringing food into the United States, it’s important to know the rules. The U.S. Department of Agriculture enforces strict regulations on what can enter the country and what is prohibited. Here’s what you need to know.

What does the law say?

• According to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website, “all travelers entering the United States must declare meats, fruits, vegetables, plants, seeds, and plant-based products, including soups, that they are carrying. This declaration applies to all products, whether in checked baggage, carry-on luggage, or in a vehicle”.

What happens if you break the rules?

• The key point is that you must declare the products mentioned above. If you’re unsure, it’s better to show the item to customs: either you’ll be allowed to keep it, or it will be confiscated. If you declare your products, the only consequence is possible confiscation. Declaring shows good faith.
• However, if U.S. customs conducts a random inspection, asks you to open your bags, and finds a prohibited item, not only will the products be confiscated but you may also face a fine. The law provides for a penalty of up to $1,000 for a first offense. It’s best to know the rules beforehand and, if in doubt, declare everything.

What products are allowed?

The list below is the official list from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website. Here’s what you can bring with you to New York:

• Bread, cookies, crackers, cakes, and cereal bars.
• Candy and chocolate.
• Milk and dairy products for children only. Adults cannot bring milk for themselves.
• Hard or soft cheese, butter, yogurt, and all dairy-based products, such as mozzarella. U.S. Customs even addresses French cheeses specifically: “Brie and Camembert are permitted,” the agency states.
• Canned goods as long as they don’t contain meat.
• Fish, shrimp, and seafood, whether fresh, cooked, dried, frozen, canned, or smoked.
• Canned fruit juice.
• Condiments such as ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, and sauces that don’t contain meat.
• Olive oil and all vegetable oils.
• Coffee beans or ground coffee and tea in bags or packets.
• Rice.
• Spices, except leaves from orange and lemon trees. Note that lemongrass is also prohibited.
• Honey and royal jelly.
• Dried fruit, including dried apricots, dates, and raisins.
• Nuts and almonds, provided they are roasted and out of their shells.
• Mushrooms, fresh or dried.
• Wheat flour, rice flour, oat flour, and cornmeal.

What products are prohibited?

Here is the official list of products prohibited by U.S. Customs:

• Fresh fruits and vegetables must be declared upon arrival. Fruit that shows signs of insect damage will be discarded immediately. To avoid delays at customs over a single apple, eat it on the plane.
• Meat and cured meats, such as sausage.
• Milk intended for adults. You can only bring milk for your children.
• Cheese containing meat. Also prohibited are soft cheeses in liquid form, such as cottage cheese and ricotta, from countries affected by foot-and-mouth disease.