archandlee

Hi
Could anyone help, we are signing up with a shipping company and they have told us that we can't ship any food stuff. Does this include things like tins, packs of lentils, flour etc that haven't been opened?? It seems a bit strict if so.
Any advise would be appreciated..
Thanks
Arch

nickyjohnt

Hello Arch, Can't help with tinned food, lentils or flour but we bought in hand luggage 2 large jars or Marmite (Vegimite doesn't do it for us ) declared them at customs as food stuff no problem at all.

Nicky & John

iPom

Flour and lentils etc could bring in insects, weevils etc. I don't know about tins... but really, unless you've saved up tins in preparation for WW3 and your underground bunker walls are lined with them floor to ceiling, just do what most people do and give to a friend. Given that your stuff could be 3 months on the ship, you don't want to be responsible for bringing some horrible insect into the country that will descimate the environment.
Of course it's very strict... Australia's an island and is hugely protective of it's wellbeing.
You can buy flour, lentils and tinned goods here too.

DebraH

Personally I can't see why you would want to take grocery items, the stores stock the usual things and if they don't you can try other items. The only things we're taking are for our friends who are missing Hula Hoops and Quavers, so a few bags of them in our luggage - whether they survive or not is a different matter!

iPom

They could just be bags of cheese dust by the time they get here.


And as for bringing lentils, why fill up expensive shipping space with something so cheap? It just doesn't make sense.

DebraH

well maybe they've never been to oz before.

how's it going
have you unpacked everything?

archandlee

Thanks guys
I don't really want to bring in things that I know I can get, but I am Indian and want some of the unusual flours that are used in cooking traditional foods, alternatively does anyone know of any Indian food grocery stores in and around melbourne?

iPom

Well if there aren't, then you've found your gap in the market, but I rather suspect you'll be absolutely fine.

DebraH

Hi can't speak for Melbourne, but I know in Perth there were some Asian stores, they may have been Chinese though (well it was last August and my brain is not working very well today)
I'm sure someone will help you. Is it Garam flour - is that how you spell it? I'll have a look on coles for you

iPom

<collapses in hysterical laughter>

The kids have unpacked though...

moneypenny20

My local Coles does that flour and there are stacks of asian supermarkets with all manner of fab ingredients. Can't imagine you will have a problem. There are also some internet spice shops.

iPom

There are plenty of Indian restaurants here, so they must get their supplies from somewhere ...

DebraH

Pull yourself together woman and get a drink

iPom

Righto!

DebraH

then got on with the packing - mind you what's the time there