Florence Meat Question

well that is a interesting question. https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/82/~/travelers-bringing-food-into-the-u.s.-for-personal-use

The only way my husband will go is with the promise of a Christmas Meat Market!

Like cold cuts (salame, prosciutto, etc)?

The answer is generally NO.

Not sure if they would admit vacuum packed meats.

Don't know about bringing meat into the U.S., but in years past, there has been a Christmas market set up in Santa Croce square.

For the United States all food must be declared. Meat and meat products are particularly touchy items.

See https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/82/~/travelers-bringing-food-into-the-u.s.-for-personal-use

There are also links through to APHIS and different regulations for each of the 50 states.

Interesting are the following two quotes:

Meat, milk, egg, poultry, and their products, including products made
with these materials, such as dried soup mix or bouillon, are either
prohibited or restricted from entering the United States, depending on
the types of animal diseases which occur in the country of origin.
Fresh (chilled or frozen), dried, cured, and fully cooked meat is
generally prohibited from most countries. Canned meat is allowed
entry, except beef, veal, lamb, mutton, venison, elk, bison, etc.,
from countries affected by bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE).

and

Pork should be commercially canned and labeled in unopened containers.
Pork and pork products are not admissible from Mexico, except for
cooked pork in small amounts for a meal.

We so wanted to bring a ham back from Spain but the US is very firm about meats. Even commercially canned beef products for example are usually confiscated. We brought back canned duck from France and it was the only time since 1961 on the docks of NYC that we got the full customs search. They didn't confiscate the duck but they might have (although it is 'allowed' what is not 'allowed' is winning an argument with a customs agent) Cured meats are not allowed.

We brought back hot dogs from Iceland. Declared them. Customs agent verified with us their country of origin - Iceland - and OK'd their entry.

It might be worthwhile for you to consult CBP at https://help.cbp.gov/ There is a giant "Ask a Question" button which is the method I used to contact them prior to our trip It took them about 12 days to answer that yes, I can generally bring back meat products from Iceland.

If you contact them be as detailed as you can about the type of product you'd like to bring back, its country of origin, etc.

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

Last summer I brought back two salamis that were vacuum sealed and got through customs. I'm not sure if it was prohibited or not but we were able to get through with them.

We brought back boar salami we purchased in San Gimignano that was vacuum packed and had no problem, we declared them on our customs sheet. We told the store owner that we were traveling back to the US and she knew to Vacuum pack them for us. OH boy they were delicious! Next time we will be bringing back more.