Cheese It! It's the TSA-Change that to Customs!

Shrink wrap does not matter, though it is handy, but a well wrapped cheese is fine, or a whole wheel with just the rind.

As for customs, you are only really worried about US Customs (Actually the USDA) at your first stop returning to the US. You will be asked about food items at immigration, indicate you have them, they may ask what, and make a mark on your entry form they give you, Customs will take the form (It does vary by location, some airports use forms or slips, others not) and either let you pass or ask to take a look.

As for what is allowed, generally any hard or semisoft cheese is OK, something that has been aged a few months at least. What is usually not OK is the very soft runny cheese or fresh cheeses like a ricotta, or a wet mozzarella, particularly if it might be unpasteurized. I use the term "usually", because in all cases, if they check, it is at the discretion of the officer.

If you are talking about bringing something from the US into Germany, then different rules apply.

I always pack cheeses in checked luggage for the return, always declare that I have food if asked, (some areas rely on the Beagle Patrol), and have never had a problem in many trips. In 20+ trips, all with some type of food item, have maybe been asked once to look in my bags.

Here's a recent Washington Post article on the Beagle Patrol at Dulles International. The article is gifted but WaPo will ask for a new user to register for free (sorry about that). https://wapo.st/3AZbMq0.

If you are coming back to the US, TSA isn't involved. And Germany doesn't care. You will be dealing with US Customs. All agricultural products need to be declared. Hard and semi soft cheeses are generally allowed, as long as they are coming from countries without Foot and Mouth disease and don't contain meat products. Keep in the original packaging and keep the receipts as proof of origin.

You must declare everything you bought or were given while abroad. If something is on the prohibited list, it will be confiscated. But if you failed to declare something that they subsequently find, you would also be subject to a fine.

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/traveling-with-ag-products/milk-dairy-eggs

I'm not sure the source of the shrink wrap "requirement" you speak of, but you must declare your food items to Customs and Border Protection (not TSA) on arrival to USA. https://www.cbp.gov/travel/international-visitors/agricultural-items Doesn't matter if you have it in your checked bag. If you fail to declare any agricultural or food products (even those permitted) you could be fined. The USDA sets what is permissible, here's the dairy info https://www.aphis.usda.gov/traveling-with-ag-products/milk-dairy-eggs.

And even without shrink wrap, the sniffer dogs at the airport are extremely good at their job - I once saw a woman go through a very extensive search of her backpack, only to reveal the dog had sniffed out the plastic wrap from a sandwich she had eaten a day before.

I would read this and follow the link they provide https://www.help.cbp.gov/s/article/Article-1470?language=en_US

Thank you everyone for your responses. I meant the Customs and not TSA-you are correct. Sorry about that.

Paul, that is exactly what I was thinking. It is just a declare it and go on but was wondering why the shrink wrap threat because I had planned on bringing several ziplocs to set it in for travel home. Several posts said Germany didn't allow it out unless it was shrink wrapped and I don't think Mexico ever cares what I am LEAVING them with. If it is that bad, I am sure they are glad I am taking it with me. LOL I was wondering who shrink wraps the cheese if I am at the Christmas Markets or vendors.

Trotter, I would take a guess that Beagle Patrol would be on top of the cheese even if it was shrink wrapped. LOL! That is too cute that they send in the noses.

CJean- Thank you for the receipt warning! I would have never thought of that one! And you are correct on declaring. We declare everything down to deodorant purchased "Sundries" when we travel because I don't want to lose my Global Entry status. If you get caught attempting to defraud it, you lose that privilege permanently.

My understanding of the “wrapped” requirement is that the cheese should be sealed in a commercial package with a label as to origin, so they can see what kind of cheese it is. Last time I checked, raw milk cheeses are not allowed into the US, but that may have changed.

In any case you must declare it to avoid trouble. The beagle will find it even if it is hidden in your luggage (which is a good place to carry it, as it will stay cold in the belly of the plane.

I know that this is not an answer and I am SO SORRY! In my defense, you’ve gotten some excellent advice here, so I am just going to tell a wee story. I hope this is ok? :-)

Eons ago, the summer I turned 16, Da gifted ma and my Mama a two-week long adventure to England for my birthday. We had a freaking BLAST. :-)

Friends, I fell in love with British cheese. I ate a powerful lot of strong mature cheddar, Caerphilly, Cheshire, Stilton, red Leicester, etc. etc. on the trip.

Before we left for home I snagged a huge wedge of beautiful Cheshire, one of my faves (now as then). We were “backpacking around,” so I packed the cheese in my twilled fabric backpack and checked it as luggage.

All was fine until Mama and I were standing at the baggage carousel, waiting for our bags. Hers came, all fine, no worries. Now mine (it was bright red, so easy to clock) came tumbling down the chute and onto the sliding metal plates of the conveyor belt. And bloody heck, but it had been ripped wide open in transit!

As I helplessly watched, my enormous block of beautiful Cheshire cheese was thrown wide of the rip in the bag and landed on the metal plates.

It had softened slightly en route.

Before my horrified eyes, a corner of the plastic wrap got sucked in between the metal plates, dragging a corner of the cheese with it… and then more of the cheese, until all of it was being sucked into the conveyor plates and extruded further along like wide cheesy noodly ribbons of sadness.

I could smell it from where I stood. I was aghast.

A kindly priest (it was an odd day) in the crowd leaped onto the verge of the carousel and hauled my wounded backpack off before more of my belongings could be destroyed… but of course he could not save my cheese.

I live in London now and am able to indulge in good Cheshire cheese on the regular, but I will never forget that day.

Happy travels - and good luck with your cheese!

I was wondering who shrink wraps the cheese if I am at the Christmas Markets or vendors.

I can't speak for Christmas markets, but it seemed like most of the market vendors in the Netherlands would shrink wrap whatever cut of cheese you chose, supermarkets in Spain routinely will shrink wrap your choice, same with many cheese shops, and I suppose elsewhere as well. They all seem to have those vacuum pack machines.

Like I said, it is handy and does a good job, but not "required". I also have heard that it must be shrink wrapped as advice, I suppose since it is so common, people just assume you must.

You will have no problem leaving Germany, they certainly do scan checked bags, but have no concern over food. Your carry-on is of course scanned as you go through security, and it would not be unusual for them to look closer at a big hunk of cheese (probably has a similar density and form to things they do look for, particularly if you had electronics in the bag.)

Maybe replace the word Shrink-wrap with Vacuum packed? I think there is a difference and customs may feel the same way in the US. You go through customs when you arrive in a country, not when you leave.

Ms. Jo-
Maybe replace the word Shrink-wrap with Vacuum packed? I think there is a difference and customs may feel the same way in the US. You go through customs when you arrive in a country, not when you leave.
I was reading it from other pages as shrink wrapped and that is why I used that phrase but you are correct. Vac seal would remove the air whereas shrink wrap just kind of heats the packaging to seal, I think? Most of the cheese we buy here is wrapped in a saran wrap/clear cellophane wrap when it is a specialty cheese so I was assuming that was the same there in Germany as well. As far as the customs when you arrive and not when you leave, that was exactly why I was asking my question. The comments I saw on various other threads some mentioned Germany customs require the cheese be shrink wrapped so be sure and get it wrapped at the vendor before leaving or you will lose your cheese. I wondered at what stage Germany customs is going to look at my cheese? Like you said, I have never had a country I was leaving (only ever have left Mexico, so admittedly some are more lax than others) ask me what I am LEAVING with. Only what are you ENTERING with. It would make sense though like everyone here has mentioned that I would need to leave it in its orig, unopened packaging AND Keep The Receipt! I knew this, but why it wasn't in my mental equation, I don't know. I was going to declare it either way, but wanted to know about that sealing of the cheese.

Lola- I think you are spot on. And yes, that is why I thought I would leave it in the belly of the plane. Much cooler than in the cabin, but I was wondering based off of comments on other forums if it was going to be checked by Germany? Now I kind of think people meant "leave it in the original packaging, unopened" rather than the term "shrink wrapped", but I could be wrong.

Volva- Your story was hilarious! Well, not at the time, but glad you are now able to share with me and also eat as much of that cheese as you want. I will be on the England boards for this summer so be prepared to hit me up with some good advice on cheese purchases and what to do while I am there. ;)

Paul- Thank you! I am glad you read that somewhere, too. I was beginning to think that it was a bunch of whackadoodle poodles that were leading me astray on that shrink wrap comment on the cheese! I couldn't for the life of me understand why Germany would care what I was leaving with, but if they did, I wanted to be prepared with a shrink wrapped cheese and in the carry on if they needed to verify that was what I was in fact carrying so I didn't have to wait for them to find my luggage. If you have done it in the belly of the plane wrapped, I will, too, but after Volva's story, I may be double Ziploc Baggy-ing these cheeses so as to avoid a mishap on the baggage carousel! LOL

on a tangent - and welcome to the Forums - I'm curious that you ask other social media about these questions as well as here, but then I see that you are new here.

I think you will find that we are a pretty happy group, with absolutely mountains of experience, and everybody pretty uch tries to help y sharing that experience. We try to get you the best holiday ever.

I don't use or participate in any other forums than here at Rick Steves. I'd be interested in how you do it. Do you ask the same questions in different places to see if everybody agrees? What if they don't? Do you then go to the source (say, government websites in this case) or do you ask another forum, kind of like a tie-breaker?

I hope that's received in a positive way, because I genuinely don't know.

I think you will find that the Rick Steves Forums are a kind and pleasant place to hang out (I and many others have been doing so for many years) and I think you will have a wonderful trip to Germany.

After you have been around more of Europe perhaps you tell us which cheeses and which countries' cheeses you prefer.

You take your chances. Wonder, wonder, wonder. All about packaging. Or, you could simply buy the cheese you want here in the US. It is fairly simple to do so. Even my local King Soopers has a great assortment of cheeses from everywhere. Enjoy your cheese over in Europe and then buy more here. Because of course you will be wanting more. Cheese is not a one time taste.

But do understand that the OP isnt asking if it is legal or how to do it legally, the OP is expressing that he doesnt care about the law and wont get caught unless customs sees somehting they want for themselves.

I didn't get that from her post. I did get that the OP is asking for information on customs in Europe, and wants to know what the law is. She also mentioned that the only int'l travel she has experience with is in Mexico where evidently customs has taken items at random, even though the OP verified the legality of those items. But there is nothing in either paragraph that would suggest she doesn't care about the law.

Nigel, it sounds like she is asking for clarification of information found on other social media, which makes sense. I'm on Reddit frequently and also belong to several Facebook travel groups. But I'm not the only one. I know some members here who frequent TripAdvisor and Fodor's forum regularly and a lot more who are members of Facebook travel groups. :-)

Welcome Wilde. Food is my favorite souvenir, and I've brought a lot of cheese back over the years. Yes you can get most cheese here, but thats not the point of a souvenir. IME, as long as you declare, it's not an issue, unless you look suspicious or they're following a tip.

You could go right to the website of the authorities (USDA APHIS): dairy products. They are the ones who inspect food, if the US CBP folks send you over to them. Part of their mission is to know where and when current outbreaks of certain diseases are occurring, so they can and do take things that may meet the packaging requirements but are suspect.

In the guidelines (link) they refer to "unopened" and "labeled" packaging, so that they can tell where it's coming from, and what kind it is. Again, they would know if there has been an outbreak related to a certain area or product. I think that the more secure the packaging is, as in vacuum packed, makes it easier to see that it hasn't been opened.

Where you might have a problem with TSA, is if you have a connecting flight in the US, AND have to go through a TSA security screening again. The X-Ray can't see through a big blob of cheese enough for them to know if you cleverly stuffed some C4 into the wedge of butterkäse. So they might want a closer look, and in that case intact, tight packaging would help ease their concern. I've had that happen domestically, with cheese bought at the Milwaukee airport gift shop. Possibly the security screeners at other countries' airports could have a problem, but I've never seen it. And a quick look (intact packaging) should be enough. They are supposed to use judgment, not follow rigid rules.

Nigel- "on a tangent - and welcome to the Forums - I'm curious that you ask other social media about these questions as well as here, but then I see that you are new here." I don't know that I was on a tangent or unhappy as much as just trying to get the correct advice. Unless you are referring to my comment to Mr. E that I see moderators have since removed, then yes, I was a bit offended by his accusing me of trying to do something illegal. I also felt like my comment was pretty much for clarification. As Mardee and everyone else noted, I was not trying to do anything illegal merely asking what I am supposed to do. I will know better than to ask next time. NO harm. NO foul. I don't ask other social media necessarily as I read other social media forums and see what others have said was an issue, like the shrink wrap on a package of cheese. Then I take the sum of all those comments and see what is a one off or a repeated comment, i.e. the cheese. I am not on ANY facebook/other social media travel groups at all. I do participate in TripAdvisor.com forums quite a bit though and find that their advice is usually pretty good if you are asking the right people-some have been one time and feel they are experts, but others in the community will generally clue you in on that. I have seen, as someone else pointed out, this comment elsewhere, so thought it best to confirm and alleviate all doubt. I actually first go to the govt website for the country I am entering and look at the guidelines there for anything I think I may be bringing back. Any gray areas, I take to TripAdvisor (or now maybe here) and get the general consensus as to what I should be doing/what others have done. As far as it being a generally happy community, I feel like I have gotten great advice so far, except for Mr. E... accusing me of trying to be a sneak.

Your comment was not upsetting to me in any way, so I hope that you don't take my reply as offensive either. Sometimes it is difficult to get the gist of things through text so I hope you take my above comment in the spirit in which is was given, which I guess Mr. E... did not seem to get. LOL!

treemoss2-
Cool screen name, btw
You take your chances. Wonder, wonder, wonder. All about packaging. Or, you could simply buy the cheese you want here in the US.

Well, that would sound logical if I weren't being asked to bring back cheese to my cat sitter. ;) That is the only request he has, so that is what I am going to do for him. He is a sweet older guy so I like to bring him back what he specifically asks for and he requested that I bring him back 4 different cheeses. No parameters on the type. Just 4 different ones so that is what I wanted to do for him. I probably will see the same cheeses there that I buy weekly at Trader Joe's, but it will be something special to the cat sitter and I will be glad to make him happy.

Stan- Welcome Wilde. Food is my favorite souvenir, and I've brought a lot of cheese back over the years. Yes you can get most cheese here, but thats not the point of a souvenir. IME, as long as you declare, it's not an issue, unless you look suspicious or they're following a tip. Thank you for the welcome! I am glad you get it. We do like to bring food back from Mexico that can't be bought here as our souvenirs and also as our gifts for others. It is honestly for my cat sitter. I am a cheese freak, but if I got to the airport and they confiscated my block of cheese for it not being shrink wrapped, it wouldn't ruin my trip. It would ruin it if it were the only thing I was bringing back as a souvenir for someone else (cat sitter) so yes, I want to be sure and follow the rules. I had planned to declare it for sure. So you are saying don't get in the weeds on the wrap and don't look beady eyed at the customs, and I ought to pass through. Got it! I actually have the Global Entry and didn't want to get caught with cheese that was declared and not shrink wrapped. LOL! I also had read GERMANY customs would take it before I board on a couple of posts elsewhere and that had me confused/wondering if Europe does customs exit different than Mexico does. Mexico could care less what I leave with so customs isn't involved til I get back here and that is the only "international" travel I have done. I was also concerned with losing my Global Entry status because you don't meet with a customs agent at all. Just declare on the screen and take your pic and grab your luggage on the other side so I wanted to be sure I was going about it the correct way.

Mardee-
I didn't get that from her post. I did get that the OP is asking for information on customs in Europe, and wants to know what the law is. She also mentioned that the only int'l travel she has experience with is in Mexico where evidently customs has taken items at random, even though the OP verified the legality of those items. But there is nothing in either paragraph that would suggest she doesn't care about the law.

Thanks! I appreciate your seeing that. If I were going to be trying to do something illegal, why would I even bother to ask? LOL! Especially if I were so well versed in doing it according to him. LOL! Not a big deal. We can all move on from it. He misunderstood me, but both our comments were removed so we can all rest easy.

The places I buy cheese from in France can, and do, vacuum wrap. That's in Metz, Paris, Nancy, Wissembourg, St Avold, and a couple other smaller places. But, and I'm just going to throw this out there, most cheese vendors will tell you, even with vacuum pack a cheese that's not kept refrigerated (or cooled) will start to change in 4 hours. And even packed and cooled they have a "use by" date.

KGC -Thanks for that! I was probably going to wait until the end of the trip to purchase any cheese but thanks for the thought on getting it later rather than sooner! :) Excellent advice.