Bringing Foie Gras back to the US

https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/944/%7E/bringing-meat,-poultry-or-pork%2Fswine-products-into-the-u.s

According to this, it's a definite maybe.

"As a general rule - if goods are cooked and in shelf-stable (does not require refrigeration) packaging such as cans or other hermetically sealed containers AND they are not from a country affected with various diseases such as Avian influenza, Mad Cow disease, Swine Fever, Exotic Newcastle Disease, etc., they may be admissible."

You'd probably be OK but I would only pack the cans in a checked bag! My DH got a thorough (!) going-over from TSA here in the States (Maine) once for canned lobster dip in his carry-on. They pretty much had a cow over those lil' cans.

I have brought cans back in my checked luggage with no problem.

Its not the size of the can, or whether its cooked or not, its that importing meat products is restricted because they might have disease, bugs or other contamination that the Department of Agriculture is trying to prevent entering the US. Remember mad cow disease for example? The solution is not to try and guess whether it will pass or not, or depend on the experiences of other travelers who may have gotten by, but Declare it when you enter the US. The customs form, kiosk, or Global Entry system always asks the simple question if you are bringing in food. The answer is yes. The screener will ask you what you have and either they'll take it, let it go, or ask an Ag inspector to look at it. If you dont declare it (and your cookies, chocolate, coffee, etc.) and they find it, it will be much more serious for you than if they just take it. I know most people don't bother to declare anything even if their bag is full of salami, but its what you are supposed to do. And sometimes they do get caught.

I’ve brought cans back recently but those cute little glass jars with the metal clasp are a no no.

There is no definitive answer. If you read through the previous link provided, they are saying mostly "no", but under some conditions, and depending what diseases they are seeing in France, and the fact that it is canned, then maybe. Even if someone recently has brought some back (and declared it) there is no guarantee that you will have the same result, maybe a better chance, but no guarantee.

The process is, buy what you want, on return, at the kiosk or on the paper form, you must answer the question regarding food, meat, dairy affirmative that you have some. The immigration officer will ask what you have, tell them, then he may say OK, or direct you to the USDA people. The USDA people make the decision yes or no.

If you think, well a few cans, no need to answer the question yes, forget it. If they find it, there is no "well is it OK?" they just take it and likely fine you.

In the end, if it is not an amount you can't afford to lose, then bring it back, declare it, tell them per the CBP site it appears to be OK, then be prepared for their decision (lose it or keep it.)

And if you do not declare it as "food" on your reentry form, and they arbitrarily check you, you may also lose your Precheck and/or Global Entry status for "lying on the form". This is what one of the DIA officials told me and I haven't taken the chance again. On the other hand, advice I learned early on is to not ask the question I don't want the "no" answer to and (maybe) take my chances. In this case, I made the mistake (?) of asking the question. Chocolate bars.....really???

I'd pack the cans in a checked bag, and declare that you are bringing food back to the USA, and explain (or show) to the customs person what you're bringing back. You might mention that it's "authentic foie gras from France, where they invented it," if you want to have more of a conversation than simply saying as little as possible.

About a dozen years ago, we brought back gorgonzola cheese, in a sealed plastic package. They didn't have any problem with us bringing some Italian mold back to Colorado. Might depend on the day, the person checking the customs/Global Entry paperwork, and what kind of mood they're in at the moment, in addition to the stringent USDA regulations. Have a good trip - and hope you get some foie gras while you're over there!

By the way, two goslings were rescued this week from a storm drain in the western suburbs of Denver by a Utilities worker, and reunited with their anxious parents. Made it on the TV news - So sometimes people do nice things for geese, too :)

Last fall I brough it back in my carry-on; in tins. Declared it. The customs official wanted to know what it was. If they aren't familiar with the item, they may have to do a bit of research. No problem.

Or, you can buy it on Amazon and tell everyone you got it in France.

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=foie+gras&crid=8LSKZK16BFJZ&sprefix=foie+%2Caps%2C214&ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_5

Hmmm, interesting that security was just fine with cans in some of your checked bags. They pitched such a fit that one time I'd mentioned above that we never risked it again! Maybe we just hit 'em on a bad day. This was just a domestic flight, and we'd bought the product in Bar Harbor.

Canned food is perfectly allowable in a checked bag per the TSA's own website; it may pop positive for explosives and have to be swabbed, but there's zero TSA issues with canned food.

The issue in this case is solely with USDA allowing food in from another country, esp food that's not usually on every table in the US. USDA, conversely, doesn't care whether the cans are in your carry on or your checked bag, as long as it's declared and they make the determination from there.

I have to admit I have never tried canned foie. Is the texture much different than whole lobe? It would have to be, I guess. It's the only thing I have NOT thought about smuggling into my luggage! Going end of September and beginning to get impatient!

Mona raises an important point...the delicious looking foie gras in glass jars is usually mi-cuit (half cooked), therefore not allowed. The « foie gras en conserve » is fully cooked, so may be allowed. No promises.

The few times I’ve brought it in, I’ve just called it cooked liver spread or pâté in a can. If you are arriving through a major city airport, the agents may be more familiar. Be sure the can mentions that it’s a product of France.

I bring back canned duck confit and foie gras all the time and only once has it caused a big to do and bag search. They didn't confiscate it though but it was the first bag search we had since 1961 on the docks of NYC. Canned poultry is not forbidden but there is always a certain amount of discretion allowed and so sometimes things that are okay suddenly aren't. ALWAYS declare precisely what you have. Also definitely in the checked luggage.

We seem to be confusing the TSA with US Customs. The rules are not necessarily the same.

You may bring canned meat and almost any cheese for private consumption into the USA from France. From France to the USA, you will only be subject to US Customs rules. TSA rules apply only to any ongoing, connecting flight taken after your initial clearance through US Customs at your point of US arrival.

I use this US Customs website for clarification which contains a bit more detail than the link in post #1:

https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/3619/kw/Travelers%20bringing%20food%20into%20the%20U.S.%20for%20personal%20use

This is why everyone is saying to put these canned products in checked luggage; they are very likely to be confiscated at airport security.

Why would airport security confiscate?

For a US bound foreign flight, TSA would confiscate something in hand/carryon baggage only because it must be under 3.4 oz, etc: https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/items/canned-foods

US Customs in the US will confiscate if you don't declare; USDA will confiscate if it's not allowed (bugs, disease, etc - interesting read - https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/invasion-of-the-longhorn-beetles-145061504/)

US Customs/USDA don't care whether the item is in a carry on or a checked bag. TSA doesn't care about bugs or disease, only security.

Kathy’s post shocks me . A domestic flight and she had issues . Are airport staff not trained ?

it needs to be in the 3-1-1 bag if it's in your carry on...

And if you do not declare it as "food" on your reentry form, and they arbitrarily check you, you may also lose your Precheck and/or Global Entry status for "lying on the form".

We always say we're bringing home food, even if it's just wine. But there's almost always chocolate and cheese also. I then just let them ask the questions. Last week as I started to rattle off the categories of food we had, the person at Customs stopped me and said: Any meat or fruit? When I said no, he said "go ahead."

it needs to be in the 3-1-1 bag if it's in your carry on

Not for foie gras. It's not liquid, or even close to it.

I think we brought back foie gras from France once, and when we declared it at US Customs, the agent said: "What's that?" I said it's sort of like pate, and he said fine.

My last point was only concerning the Lobster dip Kathy had mentioned that TSA had an issue with. The dip implies liquidity. sorry for hte confusion.

Canned goods are likely to be confiscated as potential weapons/liquids etc. Foie gras and plastique are quite similar in consistency; it would be easy to can dangerous materials and slap any old label on it.

Bring it back.all the time

The question regarding food, at least on the Global Entry screen, has changed. It is no longer generic food but was a list of agricultural products--meats, fruits, vegies, etc. I mentioned this to the customs agent since I normally have some tea and declare it. This past time I had tea and chocolate but didn't declare them because they weren't on the list. He said they no longer care about simple items like candy, tea, chocolate, etc. They are more concerned with agricultural goods.

I contacted the Customs office and received the following reply: "If the product is packed in hermetically sealed containers and cooked by a commercial method after such packing to produce articles that are shelf-stable without refrigeration in passenger baggage is allowed entry into the U.S. if intended for personal use."

Now my only question is how do I know if it's hermetically sealed and cooked by a commercial method?! :) But I think if it's in a can, I'll bring it home... Also, I know this is after jen-fafard's trip, but thought others might be Googling and come to this page too.

Happy travels to all!

Thank you for all of your replies everyone!!
I just wanted to update the forum..
So we ended up bringing about 10 cans back, the largest being 300 grams. The farmer at the market did tell me not to fly with them as carry on. All were in a checked bag and I declared them on the form. Turned out I was not even asked about them. Wish I had bought more! We will be enjoying these for a while.

Incidentally, I did notice on the way home that you can buy Foie Gras in the Duty free shop at the Paris Airport. We bought ours at the market in the Sarlat which was cheaper, but if you factor in the cost of checking a bag, the duty free option is something to consider if you only want a couple of cans and don't want to check your bag. (200g duck is about 30 Euros)
Happy traveling all!!

Glad it worked out for you jen, and thanks for reporting back. Yes, the much maligned airport shopping is more expensive, but saves you from lugging all that stuff round.

Glad it worked, even if you didn’t wind up with as much as you’d have liked now. That’s a reason to go back, so you can bring home more foie gras!

Denver, Colorado goose update: the city’s parks are full enough of pooping Canada Geese that city officials rounded up many and slaughtered them a couple weeks ago. Ground goose meat was then made available at lower-income food pantries. Goose welfare advocates have expressed concern that the public were not made aware of the goose killing plans, and meetings with city officials are ongoing. I bet the goose burgers or chili con carne isn’t nearly as good as what’s in the cans you brought home!

my only question is how do I know if it's hermetically sealed and cooked by a commercial method?!

The answer is that the only thing that matters is whether the customs official thinks they are.

One thing I'm unclear about. Why did the seller in Sarlat say that they shouldn't be carried in hand luggage? Was there liquid in them?

They are in cans like tuna fish is in the grocery store, so I think it's safe to assume they're hermetically sealed?
The farmer probably discouraged carry on because some of the cans we purchased were larger than the 3 oz. They have several different sizes with a variety of choices.. duck, goose, bloc.. etc and other canned specialties such as Cassoulet and Duck Confit. (neither of which we purchased though)
Hope that helps!

When I worked for CBP canned meats were often an issue. It could be where the can is from. We've confiscated grocery bought cans of Ravioli from Italy, as an example, because Italy has had mad cow disease and the raviolis had meat filling. I don't know if mad cow will be an issue for a duck or goose product from France?

For most foods, if they're cooked and packed in a sealed container, your chances aren't bad. If it looks like something you might have picked up on a grocery store shelf, it's likely considered hermetically sealed. The package likely says whether the contents are cooked or raw (you may have to ask someone to translate the label). On Foie Gras, the answer is maybe. Definitely declare it at the border. The only time you're actually in trouble at the border is when you try to bring something in without declaring it. Bringing a food that is confiscated won't get you into trouble (just out some money).

CBP also enforces state laws. One person might be able to bring in Foie Gras because their home is in a state that hasn't banned it. The next person in line may have the can confiscated because their home state doesn't allow it. Do you live in a state that likes to ban things?

No, I don't live in California where it's banned, I'm from the east coast.
All I can say is that I didn't have any problems bringing it home, and I did declare it. I guess it's up to everyone else whether or not they want to give it a try. Hopefully they'll have the same luck I did :)