When you travel internationally, there’s a whole song and dance of answering questions and declaring items you have to go through before re-entering the U.S. When Customs asks you if you have any food to declare, declare every food item you have—just in case.
It all comes down to Question 11, Part A: “Are you bringing fruits, vegetables, plants, seeds, food or insects into the United States?” Most of the time, I hastily check off “no” because I don’t even stop to think about pre-packaged stuff I found at a store, snacks I bought at the airport, or the stuff they hand out on the plane ride home. But Melanie Lieberman at The Points Guy suggests you might be better off mentioning all food, regardless of where you got it. A US Customs and Border Protection (CPB) public affairs officer explains:
With food and agriculture products, the best advice to travelers is to always declare it. While many [items] may be permissible, it’s best to declare them to avoid possible fines and penalties if they are deemed prohibited.
What kind of penalties? We’re talking up to $10,000 in fines. According to the CBP, failing to declare something as basic as an apple will at least net you a $300 first-time fine (repeat offenders have to $500 or more). Failure to declare items can also lose you your Global Entry membership.
Of course, CBP agents aren’t as concerned with some types of food as others. They’re not really looking for prepared or processed foods, like chips, crackers, candy, and other snacks. That extra bag of salted pretzels you schmoozed out of the flight attendant is safe. Nuts that have been roasted, boiled, or ground are also permissible, as are granola bars and most cheese. Even dried fruit is usually fine.
They’re looking for raw fruits, vegetables, meats (even dried meats), eggs, seeds, and nuts. And yes, any such items you picked up at the airport or were given on the plane counts! Just ask the woman who was fined $500 for an apple that was given to her by her airline. If you’re not certain about the food in your bags, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Check “yes” if there’s anything edible in your luggage and be ready to explain it to a CBP agent. Or you can eat all of it or toss it out before you get to Customs.
How to Avoid a $500 Fine at Customs and Border Protection | The Points Guy