Taking/Declaring food - worth it ?

[Guest]

We take various dry items, coffee, teabags and so on, always declare everything and we've never been sent to Customs. We were sent to Customs when my Dad took some Coffee Mate with him which he'd declared on the form. The conversation went along the lines of, What is this - Coffee Mate. What exactly is it - powdered creamer for coffee, instead of using milk. Can you open the tin please sir. The tin was opened, examined and put through the x ray machine. It was handed back and we were dismissed.
I was just glad my Dad had taken a new tin at my suggestion instead of putting some in a plastic bag like he'd planned.

[Eeyore rocks]

When we went with my sil and bil a few years back... the dog came and sat at her bag... 🤣 she had had an apple in there back at Gatwick which she had eaten..it could smell where it had been! 😬

[mick]

Originally Posted by Sue BL

We take various dry items, coffee, teabags and so on, always declare everything and we've never been sent to Customs. We were sent to Customs when my Dad took some Coffee Mate with him which he'd declared on the form. The conversation went along the lines of, What is this - Coffee Mate. What exactly is it - powdered creamer for coffee, instead of using milk. Can you open the tin please sir. The tin was opened, examined and put through the x ray machine. It was handed back and we were dismissed.
I was just glad my Dad had taken a new tin at my suggestion instead of putting some in a plastic bag like he'd planned.

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The Customs Officer had obviously never stepped foot in a Walmart then where they sell a thousand different Coffeemate flavours.

Seriously though it is always safer to call it a "non-dairy creamer"

Mick

[Guest]

Originally Posted by mick

The Customs Officer had obviously never stepped foot in a Walmart then where they sell a thousand different Coffeemate flavours.

Seriously though it is always safer to call it a "non-dairy creamer"

Mick

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I resisted the temptation to say come on, you must know what this is!

[mick]

Originally Posted by Sue BL

I resisted the temptation to say come on, you must know what this is!

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Yes my simple rule after going through USA immigration about 35 times is always be polite and confident. You may even get the occasional "have a great vacation". I believe that smart Alec comments are not a good way to start a holiday.

The Smith & Wesson on their hips is a good clue.

Mick

[Gryff]

I always have a shed load of sweets and food items for expat friends in our cases always declare them and never had an issue do get the odd comment on things like Yorkshire pudding mix and beans but as Mick says confident and polite is the way to go

[pumpkin mom]

We actually got told off for declaring tea and coffee. The officer said that we only need to declare meat dairy and fruit. He said he had no choice but to send us to secondary for inspection as we had ticked yes to food and not to do it again ! Secondary took all of two mins to put case through scanner. Have never ticked yes ever since. Just my luck next month to meet the officer who has different opinion 😣 honestly what to do x

[Bee happy]

Thanks everyone,great advice. I will definitely take some items of food now

[mick]

Originally Posted by pumpkin mom

We actually got told off for declaring tea and coffee. The officer said that we only need to declare meat dairy and fruit. He said he had no choice but to send us to secondary for inspection as we had ticked yes to food and not to do it again ! Secondary took all of two mins to put case through scanner. Have never ticked yes ever since. Just my luck next month to meet the officer who has different opinion 😣 honestly what to do x

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Sorry I can't advise what to do when you encounter an agent who doesn't even know the laws imposed by his own Employer.

All is clear here. Maybe you print it off.

help.cbp.gov/app/answers/det...20a%20question

Mick

[Canoeing fairy]

We arrived with virgin in july and were told on the plane that landing cards were no longer required. The immigration officer just asked is if we had any food.