DebzinUS

Robinsons Silver Shred marmalade

WEBlue

I was not aware of this. How interesting! It seems the US banned this sweetener aeons ago (the 60s) and, despite occasional petitions and studies saying cyclamates are safe in typical normal usage, has not lifted the ban.

I did bring some 'Hermesetas' sweetener tablet dispensers with me when I moved Stateside, and a UK family member later brought me more. Never had a clue they were not allowed to be sold here--I just like the easy tablet dispensers, which you (or I anyway) cannot get anywhere in the US.

Finp

Brilliant suggestions - I just spent £80 in the pound shop on sweets

Speedwell

Sure? I just did a quick check of Amazon and found Equal and Canderel (aspartame), Splenda (sucralose), NectaSweet (saccharin), and SweetLeaf (stevia) in tablet dispensers. I don't use high-intensity sweeteners, so the packets of xylitol and the like do for me, but those may help you.

WEBlue

Thanks for that, Speedwell. I know Amazon does have them, but I've heard from friends they usually charge too much for shipping ($2 per small dispenser) and the dispensers bought online are often defective, for some reason, so I've never thought to order them. For now I get enough from British visitors, but I wish I could find them locally. The paper sachets widely used here are so fiddly & wasteful!

steveq

NO cheese should have bacteria in it, some MIGHT, in which case you'll get poisoned.

Blue cheeses have MOULDs in them - Penicillium Roquerforti IIRC
You can buy Stilton in the USA anyway !

Speedwell

There are specific bacteria used in cheesemaking to culture the milk. Wikipedia is a good resource on how it's done.

Bomjeito

I'm sure I'll be duly smacked about for not reading the WHOLE thread, however I wanted to point out our experience.

All three moving companies from the UK that gave us quotes was very upfront that no food was to be in the shipping containers. We did abide by that; it was in the paperwork quite clearly with the company we chose.

Are you sure your shipper will allow food in the shipment?

However, we did pack in teas and such, and in the bathroom boxes, I did include Branstons, Salad Cream, etc. along with the shampoos and cleaning supplies that I did bring along.

We have found pretty much everything we want either in Houston shops or online. The only things we can't find are very regional items, such as Highland Toffees. It certainly doesn't stop us from asking folks to bring over stuff when they come, as of course, the prices here are a bit higher than in Tesco!

I find the best prices and selections in the Indian/Pakistan-centered areas of Houston. Just browse the many small grocers and you'll find a ton of stuff you can enjoy, and cheaper than Kroger or HEB.

The one thing I can't get here, and I think it is brilliant, is Cif. The bathroom cleanser. It gets out all sorts of marks and shines things so well. That is the top of the list when we get back over to come back.

Bob

I presumed the OP meant in the suitcase...

Finp

yes in the suitcases. As a family of 4 that is 8 suitcases. 1 for clothes, 1 for food each. And hubby hopefully going again next week as long as the passport appears from the embassy to do another run for me - oh and to work of course.

Bomjeito

Ahh. Seemed like a lot of food stuffs to bring in suitcases and fewer clothes! But then again, we wish we brought more foodstuffs than clothes as clothes are so much cheaper here.

When we go back to visit, we do take practically empty suitcases in order to bring things back!

Finp

ooh yes and with an amazing tumble dryer i can get the clothes turned around a lot quicker than here - I'd rather wear a top twice then forgo my chocolate!

bugman

the main thing I bring back is treacle as that's something i've yet to find in a shop, golden syrup I can get. Also lots of blocks of pasteurized cheese that I cannot get here, eg Cheshire, Wenslydale, at customs I always say 'pasteurized cheese'.

Speedwell

Bomjeito, Cif is "Jif" in other countries, and while not marketed in the US, might be available in Houston in some of our many ethnic shops. Odds are maybe one of the halal groceries might have some since it is sold in the Middle East. Since I'm just north of the "Mahatma Gandhi" district, I'll keep an eye out.

bugman, treacle is at least available on Amazon if nothing else. (Molasses, especially the blackstrap kind that seems to be what you mostly get, is not the same and is not a good substitute, unfortunately.) Cheshire cheese is readily available here in Houston at least; Wensleydale is also available in a rainbow of completely unnecessary fruit mixtures, bleah. Plain Wensleydale, which we can't get, is very good with fruit, but not like that.

Englishmum

Oddly enough, on all our international moves we were told by the shippers not to include cleaning products.

How I miss Domestos thick bleach - especially the containers with lids similar to the 'Toilet Duck' cleaners where you can shoot it up on the inside rims of toilets. Bleach in the US - and here in Switzerland - is too thin and I seem to splash it everywhere - I've ruined some of my clothes when cleaning with bleach.

(I still find it strange that Chlorox bleach is liberally used in the US when doing the laundry - it ruins elastic in socks etc.)