Crisps Though Customs
 

Sounds stupid this but a friend I am visiting next week has asked for Prawn Cocktail crisps.

Is there any reason I cannot take Prawn Cocktail crisps into America. Being potatoe and quite frankly disgusting I thought they may be black listed.

I am also taking chocolate but I know thats not an issue.

Re: Crisps Though Customs
 

I think potato chips are allowed as British shops here can import them commercially.

Just tick the food box on the customs form, and when asked describe the items. When you get to customs (as opposed to immigration) you may well be referred for a bag check so they can see exactly what it is. If they do decide not to allow it, the fact that you've declared it means there's no liability against you.

Re: Crisps Though Customs
 

Right great thanks Roy.

Re: Crisps Though Customs
 

The rules are intricate and arcane, with numerous exceptions, but generally speaking foods that (i) do not contain meat or animal products AND (ii) are cooked/ baked/ fried are allowable. This includes home prepared foods.

Most meats are prohibited, and raw fruits and vegetables can also be a problem.

Re: Crisps Though Customs
 

Are you mad??? :eek: :lol:

You could put them in your checked baggage.

Re: Crisps Though Customs
 

Our transatlantic cousins do not call them "crisps". They are "chips" !

Re: Crisps Though Customs
 

Shrimp cocktail potaydo chips.

Re: Crisps Though Customs
 

So "prawns" are "shrimps" ??????

Re: Crisps Though Customs
 

I'll take a tube of PC pringles and a bag of scampi fries and a bag of frazzles.....

Re: Crisps Though Customs
 

Aren't they? I've never seen prawns here. Well, not on the menu.

Re: Crisps Though Customs
 

I will inform on you.

Re: Crisps Though Customs
 

Got Dan Quayle in a heap of trouble, way back when
And he was a chip off the old (family) block

Re: Crisps Though Customs
 

"Prawn cocktail".....surely, you have......no?
Most, ubiquitous, unappetizing "appetizer" on any unimaginative, stock menu

Maybe not in Calabasas though :lol:

Re: Crisps Though Customs
 

I don't know now. I know someone thought my pronunciation of 'prawn' was hilarious once, maybe I've blocked it out since :o

Re: Crisps Though Customs
 

The only problem is....the bags often burst because of changing pressure....
My daughter always takes White Cheesy Popcorn home....and the bags often burst open....so put them in a sealed Zippy bag.

I declare every food thing when I come back....Bisto gravy granules, and Birds custard.
Not sure what's legal, but declaring everything you put in your mouth is IMHO always the safest bet!!:p

Re: Crisps Though Customs
 

Never have a problem bringing crisps into the US. We always declare them.
Frazzles, monster munch, wotsits and twiglets have all made it safely into the kids lunch bags for school as the novelty food item for their friends to taste.

Re: Crisps Though Customs
 

I taught my children chess. When they talked with some older Americans about the little guys in the front row, there were a lot of raised eyebrows!

Re: Crisps Though Customs
 

:lol:

Re: Crisps Though Customs
 

I was away doing an install and my wife called. I told her I was watching "Hardcore Pawn" and I still can't work out why she hung up on me!!!!


(True story, but without the hangup ;))

Re: Crisps Though Customs
 

;)

Re: Crisps Though Customs
 

I thought that was verboten becos BSE. My brother had some Bovril confiscated once, before we discovered Bovrite.

Re: Crisps Though Customs
 

To avoid unnecessary discussions with the immigration officer and customs officer list them on the customs forms as "potato chips" not "prawn cocktail" anything. They are allowed, just occasionally the person you speak to doesn't understand what "crisps" are (especially "prawn cocktail" ones) and then they put you in the ~x-ray your luggage~ queue, which takes forever, particularly if you've come in just behind a flight from Thailand, trust me :banghead:

Re: Crisps Though Customs
 

I've received many a box of crisps and they've gotten past CBSA or CBP as the case may be. I'd stay away from any flavour that sounds as though it has cheese or meat or eggs in it though. I generally go with Worcestershire sauce or Salt & Vinegar flavours as a consequence. Or something that no-one can identify, like Flamin' Hot Monster Munch. I doubt anyone at CBP knows what "prawns" are though, I actually had a pack of prawn cocktail crisps with my lunch today.

One important point is that a box of crisps is quite large but is still under the Royal Mail weight limit, so that can cause confusion at the post office about what the postage should be.

Re: Crisps Though Customs
 

Yeah, one thing is for sure, they weren't intended to be sold at the altitude I live at. :lol:

Re: Crisps Though Customs
 

Although the other way around, I brought a giant bag of Ruffles (for a friend) through UK Customs at Heathrow recently. I was even as polite to ask a uniformed custom's officer standing outside the red/blue/green lanes and he laughed, joking that he could have insisted I eat them then and there!

In all honesty as long as you declare it, for Crisps at least, I don't think they care!

Re: Crisps Though Customs
 

It's not a question of them "caring", potato crisps, and other salted corn/potato snacks, simply do not fall under any of the categories of prohibited foods.

Re: Crisps Though Customs
 

I love this place. :)

Only on BE could we have an argument about crisps and worry about getting them through customs for three pages.

Re: Crisps Though Customs
 

:lol:

.... accurate reflection of priorities?

Re: Crisps Though Customs
 

Second only to The Great Bacon Question.

Re: Crisps Though Customs
 

ah...the (rare) issues which can unify a nation

Re: Crisps Though Customs
 

Smoky Bacon flavour?

Re: Crisps Though Customs
 

I think I can survive in any country where I can get crisps and fruity HP. But then I'm hung up on stuff from the US as well.

I often have very cosmopolitan meals... :lol:

Re: Crisps Though Customs
 

I travel to the UK several times a year and often take an extra suitcase just for food. It's all processed crap and they really don't give a shit. Just once I had an issue explaining to them exactly why Chicken & Mushroom Pot Noodles don't have meat in them, but after 2 minutes it was all done and I was on my way.

If the immigration guy ever asks what I've got, I start listing the things starting with the least "suspicious" - so tea bags, chocolate, candy etc. I always find that they get bored after a few seconds and cut me off, marking my customs form with whatever code means that I don't get pulled over after getting my suitcases.

I've been doing this for close to 10 years and it's always been fine.

Re: Crisps Though Customs
 

Seems like a lot of hassle when you can have 6 bags shipped to your door for $8

Re: Crisps Though Customs
 

Good point. I always make sure periodically that I'm not lugging stuff back that I actually can get here at a reasonable price.

That said, and even though I'm not a crisp man, I don't fancy the chances of crisps making it relatively intact via suitcase or Amazon.

Re: Crisps Though Customs
 

Going back next week.
Soon as I get there I do a Tesco's/Sainsbury's run and spend hours walking about seeing all the new stuff they have out.

Also Marks and Sparks food express shops.

I usually buy gin, far more crisps than I can eat, (the variety packs), assorted cakes/biscuits/little dessert kinda things, breaded scampi, oh and fish..smoked haddock...why oh why did I end up in California...there's far more variety back home.

Re: Crisps Though Customs
 

Just to point out that in Canada you can get a lot of British stuff and it is reasonably priced unlike Cost Plus World Market. In fact Canadians tend to think of it as being Canadian rather than British in many cases, e.g. McVitie's biscuits ($3 a packet). So if you're near the border or want a cheaper flight...

The crisps are still better in the UK though.

I find a lot of stuff is seasonal in Canada, at Christmas you can get things like Black Magic chocolates (oooh) and the big tins of Quality Street and even those big plastic tub things (aaah).

Takes awhile to figure out where to get it all though, if you happen to be travelling to Canada, tell me where and I will give you a clue.

Re: Crisps Though Customs
 

Gin and crisps. Diet of champions.

Re: Crisps Though Customs
 

I go back 1 or 2 times a year and always bring back some crisps.

Never had a problem taking them through US customs though. Always get peckish around Greenland. I did manage to take a few weeks worth of Aberdeen butteries back a couple of weeks ago - didn't declare them either as they're the complete opposite of Californian health food and I doubt they'd let them through.....

Re: Crisps Though Customs
 

The last time I was honest and declared everything - the customs people confiscated my 3 cans of Heinz beans with tiny sausages. And I was so looking forward to those.......