I am going to Italy next month and I want to bring some food items back. I heard of someone bringing cheese back from Spain in their checked luggage and the airport took it. Maybe I should ship this type of thing home? Anyone have any suggestions? Thanks.
Posted by
Centennial, CO, USA
1883 posts
Keep in mind that it's pretty expensive to ship stuff back to the states...and, if it's food items, it might take longer!
You cannot bring back meat of any kind, but cheese is OK if it's shrink wrapped. I brought a small amount of cheese home on my last trip.
I only bought what I could carry on.
Keep in mind that most everything you find in Europe, you can find in the states now. It's a world market, and free trade, and it's not the good old days when purchasing something over seas was "unique". So think hard about what is really special and worth the hassle of carry on, or shipping!
When Mcdonald's, KFC and Pizza Hut moved to the old country...that was the death knoll for finding wonderful things that could only be bought in Europe!
Posted by
Glen Allen, VA
88 posts
Hi! I came back the first of October from Italy. Was able to bring cheese back in vacuum pack, and chocolate. And, you cannot find some of the cheeses and chocolate in the states that you can find there. I also shipped a great deal of wine from a small local shop. It arrived within three weeks in perfect condition. The choice is yours!
Posted by
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
705 posts
I know here any product with raw egg in it is confiscated. I think with food it depends very much on the packaging, how effectively it is sealed etc. If you do ship it back you will need to keep in mind the transit time and the fact it will probably be unrefrigerated for a period. It may not be worth it with the cost of shipping too.
Posted by
Fanwood, NJ, USA
62 posts
Hard cheeses are okay, but soft cheeses and other dairy products are not allowed. Most things with meat are not allowed. Any fresh fruits and vegetables are not allowed. According to US Customs "most prepared foods are allowed".
Paul
Posted by
San Diego, CA, United States
864 posts
Just came back from Tuscany on Friday. Brought back truffles (packed in olive oil), dried mushrooms, chocolate-chili liquers (wierd but good), just fun to share stuff. As long as it is professionally prepared and contains no meat or live cultures you're ok. Pack a couple deep snap top plastic containers. They will protect stuff from breakage and/or leaks and are good for protecting lots of other little memories. Shipping is out of sight expensive and remember you can buy most things here or on-line (but not the memories).
Posted by
Eastern Iowa, USA
7514 posts
Spend some time here: http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/vacation/kbyg/ It explains pretty well what you can bring back.
Posted by
Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
17 posts
We brought back a variety of items, Customs took our salami from us - but anything that is in a jar or dried they didn't care about.
Posted by
Henson, Florida, USA
466 posts
You can only bring HARD cheese (Parm) vaccuum packed back to the states. Any soft cheese, shrink wrapped or not will be taken on arrival at any U.S. Airport. They have the dogs that walk around the baggage area and they will smell you out!!!! You are better off eating and drinking there and bringing souvenirs back!!!
Posted by
Tulsa, OK, USA
126 posts
Returned from Europe in September with olive oil, candy, and soft cheese that we had actually cut into, with no problem. But they sure didn't like my very small melmac plastic fork, but ironically it made it through Milan Orio, Barcelona, but was confiscated in Paris. I have found Paris to be pickier than many places. They even took by snub nose scissors that had made it from the US through several checks and all the way back to Paris before they were taken. This is the second time I have had them taken in Paris, I think they use them for back to school!