(CNN) US border officials have a message for travelers bringing food from overseas: Violation will pay.
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 — – found in their luggage. (Australian authorities had imposed strict new biosecurity measures on all arrivals following an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Indonesian livestock.)
In another case a few days earlier, an Australian woman was fined $1,844 after she forgot to declare a leftover Subway sandwich she bought in Singapore.
Just last year, US border officials fined passengers for bringing a large number of unknown foods in their luggage, including balut eggs, pork bologna and turkey ham. Border agents conducted “630,150 positive checks on travelers” in 2021, according to fiscal year statistics released by US Customs and Border Protection, and issued thousands of fines and violations to travelers. failed to declare prohibited agricultural goods.
Failure to declare food products in US air, sea and land borders can lead to fines and penalties of up to $10,000, according to CBP.
Here’s what you need to know before importing food products into the US.
Why are some foods not allowed?
Travelers bringing food products to the US can intentionally introduce pests and food-borne diseases into the country, which can have a negative impact on agriculture and the environment. And an outbreak of pests or diseases can affect more than just farmers. This may interest you : Food insecurity and economic misery in low-income countries. It also means higher grocery bills and less food for consumers.
Last year, border officials discovered 264 pests at US ports of entry, a slightly higher number than the 250 found the previous year. Viruses infected last year include the Saunders 1850 butterfly found on pineapples from Costa Rica. The larvae feed on plants and legumes, and are considered the most invasive insects found in the Amazonian rainforest. Introducing it into the US environment could be harmful to the agricultural industry, CBP said.
“We work closely with the Department of Agriculture, Animal Inspection Services and United States Health to prevent the importation of plant pests and diseases from other countries,” a CBP spokesperson told CNN.
What food products are not allowed to enter the country?
What food products are not allowed into the country?
Most meat, poultry, dairy and egg products are banned or restricted in the US — with laws based on country of origin and where animal diseases are prevalent.
The United States Department of Agriculture bans animal and bird products from countries with cases of animal diseases such as mad cow, foot-and-mouth, avian flu and swine fever. This may interest you : Stop Two Healthcare Mergers Following Push Back By FTC. The USDA provides a link where visitors can check common animal diseases in specific states.
Sometimes, there are gray areas. Pork products from Mexico are prohibited, for example, but a small amount for personal use – like a ham sandwich – can be allowed at the border if the meat is cooked properly.
What food products can you bring?
What food products can you bring?
A long list of foods are allowed into the US, including condiments, cooking oil, bread, cakes, crackers, cookies, cereals, packaged tea and other baked and baked goods. See the article : ‘How should we live?’: Fast food workers pressured by inflation. CBP provides a list of permitted items on its website.
But there’s a catch: If a traveler brings more than 50 pounds of an item, it’s considered a commercial shipment and must go through additional steps, including additional security screening. And every agricultural food item must be declared on US Customs forms, so inspectors can inspect them and make sure they don’t contain harmful pests or diseases from other countries.
“The declaration must cover all items in checked baggage, carry-on baggage or in the vehicle,” the CBP website states.
Can you bring fruit or vegetables?
Can you bring in fruits or vegetables?
Almost all fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables are banned from entering the U.S. because of pest and disease risks — some of which can survive in extreme cold, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Even fruit and vegetable snacks served on a plane or cruise ship should be traced, says Lucero Hernandez of the federal Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
Travelers crossing the border into the United States from Canada can bring in fresh fruits and vegetables — as long as they were grown in Canada. But they need proof that the products are free from soil, pests and diseases, and that they were grown in Canada, not just sold there, the USDA says.
And in all cases, visitors to the US should keep receipts and original packaging to prove the country of food products, according to CBP.
What happens if you bring prohibited items?
What happens if you bring forbidden items?
Travelers who declare agricultural products in their bags do not face a penalty – even if an inspector determines that the items are not fit to enter the country, the USDA says. In such cases, the food spoils.
“An apple or snack that may be brought in by mistake will not always constitute a significant incident,” a CBP spokesperson explained of the unintentional failure to declare the food. “However, attempting to bring prohibited items may lead to delays for travelers and may result in a fine.”
“Failure to declare a prohibited food item may result in a civil penalty,” the spokesperson added.
