Manyfruits and vegetables are either prohibited from entering the UnitedStates or require an import permit (for commercial importers) or aphytosanitary certificate from the country of origin. Every fruit orvegetable must be declared to a CBP Officer and must be presented forinspection - no matter how free of pests it appears to be. Failure todeclare food products can result in a $10,000 fine. See special guidelines for produce from Canada below.

Meats,livestock, poultry, and their products are either prohibited orrestricted from entering the United States, depending on the animaldisease condition in the country of origin. Fresh meat is generallyprohibited from most countries. Canned, cured, or dried meat isseverely restricted from some countries. See special guidelines foranimal products from Canada below, and our Q&A on meat, poultry andswine products for a more complete discussion of food items from those sources.

Bakeryitems, candy, chocolate, and cured cheese are generally admissible.Canned goods and goods in vacuum packed jars (other than thosecontaining meat or poultry products)are also generally admissible ifbeing imported for personal use.

Dairy items such as milk,yogurt, butter are generally admissible, although this is subject tochange, depending on disease outbreaks. Eggs may be admissible,although frequent outbreaks of Exotic Newcastles Disease and avian flumake it very likely that they will be denied entry. Hard cured cheesesuch as parmesan or cheddar are generally admissible, soft cheeses suchas brie and soft curd cheese and cheese in water(ricotta, feta, etc.)are not.

Cooked and raw poultry is now allowed from Canada.

Fish, if it is for your personal use, is generally admissible.

Condiments such as oil, vinegar, mustard, catsup, pickles, syrup, honey, jelly, jam, etc., are generally admissible.

Fruitsand vegetables grown in Canada are generally admissible, if they havelabels identifying them as products of Canada. Fruits and vegetablesmerely purchased in Canada are not necessarily admissible, ie. citrusor tropical fruits such as mangos, which clearly were not grown inCanada because it does not have a climate that supports those crops.(Potatoes from western regions of Canada are currently restrictedbecause of a disease outbreak. While commercial imports are permittedunder stringent guidelines, travelers from Canada should avoid bringingraw potatoes with them into the US).

Currently NO RUMINANTPRODUCTS FROM CANADA MAY ENTER THE U.S. without a permit. This includesfrozen, cooked, canned or otherwise processed beef, lamb, and veal.Hunter harvested game is admissible from Canada for the traveler'spersonal use if accompanied with a permit. For more information onhunter harvested game visit the USDA website.

Pork and pork products are not admissible from Mexico.

Other then the above general guidelines, it is impossible to advise you in this forum about the admissibility of specific fooditems because it is so susceptible to change. Disease and pestoutbreaks, which impact the admissibility status of fresh and packaged food items, occur all over the world at a moments notice.

Failure to declare all food products can result in civil penalties.

BecauseCBP inspectors are stationed at ports of entry and along our land andsea borders, they are often called upon to enforce laws andrequirements of other government agencies. Because of the complexitiesof regulations governing the importation of food, CBP officers may need to contact an expert for information about what is or is not admissible. If no expert is available, foodmay be detained in the interest of preventing possible food-bornediseases into the U.S. This is done to protect community health,preserve domestic plant and animals life, etc.

The U.S.Department of Agriculture establishes criteria for the admissibility ofplant, dairy and meat products returning with travelers and they havethe final say about what may be admitted into the U.S. The USDA website: Click on Travelers' Tipshas somewhat more detailed information for travelers, and they can becontacted at 301-734-8896 for information about the admissibility ofplant or plant products.