Hope that someone can help me. I was reading that milk products aren’t allowed through customs into Italy. My 11 year old son is a multi visceral transplant recipient (stomach, liver, pancreas, small bowel). He requires about 5 cans a day of a special milk based tube feeding formula to supplement his nutrition. We are headed to Italy for more than 2 weeks and need about 75 cans that will be divided between the checked luggage bags. We have traveled with him to many countries, but thiis our first trip to Europe and I just realized this customs issue with 5 days until departure. Does anyone have experience with taking medically necessary milk based products/formula? It would be impossible to find it in Italy, as it is a prescription item here in the US. And yes, my son is physically able to travel and medically stable and happens to have parents in the medical field. Advice anyone?
Posted by
Ontario, Canada
5647 posts
Can you contact the Italian embassy to see if this prescription formula would be exempt?
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
34221 posts
Brave kid, brave parents.
With your medical connections cannot you find the appropriate substitute which is used here? There are undoubtedly needs for a similar product here, and where there is a need they will somebody fill fill it. I'd love you not to have to carry 75 cans.
OTOH, I would expect you to easily prove medical necessity so I hope that the Consulate can reassure you.
Good luck, and best wishes for a great trip for all of you.
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
16698 posts
Hi and a warm welcome to the RS gang!
You are probably WAY ahead of this but maybe something here will be helpful?
https://www.feedingtubeawareness.org/navigating-life/on-the-go/traveling/
Do let us know how it turns out? Wishing you all a well-deserved, wonderful trip!