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Bring prebiotics into England?

Posted by on

I searched the forums and couldn't find anything. I've found prebiotics (note, not the same thing as probiotics) help me sleep at night and I wanted to bring some into England if possible. Unfortunately they come in powder form in giant plastic bottles. I was considering just putting some in a plastic baggie but am wondering if that is a good idea. For that matter, would prebiotics be allowed in at all, even if in their original container? Essentially they are non-digestible fiber.

Thanks for any advise.

Posted by
8889 posts

Two separate questions here:

1) Does the US TSA allow you to carry these in your hand luggage? - don't know but if you but them in your checked-in luggage it is not a problem.

2) Does the UK customs allow them into the country? As a food additive (which is what I understand a prebiotic is) it is not a drug, and therefore no problem.
The rules are here: https://ec.europa.eu/food/animals/animalproducts/personal_imports_en
"Travellers are not allowed to bring in meat, milk or their products," - it is not that, so it is legal.

There also is an exemption for . . . . special foods . . . . required for medical reasons, if weighing less than 2 kilograms and provided that:
such products do not require refrigeration before opening
that they are packaged proprietary brand products for direct sale to the final consumer, and
the packaging is unbroken unless in current use

Posted by
14 posts

Thanks everyone. Reading over that document I was surprised by all the stuff I can bring in. I could take a couple of fish with me if I wanted to.
:)

I suspect prebiotics won't be a problem.

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