Carrying Foods Back from Blighty
Dec 30th 2003, 3:25 pm
#1
Not living a 9 to 5 life
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2002
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 11,061
Carrying Foods Back from Blighty
I thought I'd share with you my experience yesterday flying from Gatwick to RDU (Raleigh Durham "International" Airport, NC).
Between my spouse and myself we'd amassed the following foods in our nine days in the UK that we transported with us back to the US:
9 boxes X 160 bags of Sainsburys 'Gold Label' tea
4 jars of fish paste
1 roll of choc digestives (the big size)
6 boxes of soup (36 sachets total)
4 boxes of chocs (varying sizes)
1 large Marmite (3rd biggest size available)
1 med. Colemans mustard
4 packets of sweet snack bars
1 family size tin of McVities biscuits
We declared all this on the US customs form as varying types of food.
What happened when I got to Customs?
A) The Customs guy at RDU simply took the form and added it to the 2" high pile beside him. He didn't even turn the form over to look at the list of declared foods!
My flight wasn't even full (maybe 80% capacity) so it's crazy, to me at least, to think that Customs didn't even scan both sides of the form before letting me through...
NC Penguin
Between my spouse and myself we'd amassed the following foods in our nine days in the UK that we transported with us back to the US:
9 boxes X 160 bags of Sainsburys 'Gold Label' tea
4 jars of fish paste
1 roll of choc digestives (the big size)
6 boxes of soup (36 sachets total)
4 boxes of chocs (varying sizes)
1 large Marmite (3rd biggest size available)
1 med. Colemans mustard
4 packets of sweet snack bars
1 family size tin of McVities biscuits
We declared all this on the US customs form as varying types of food.
What happened when I got to Customs?
A) The Customs guy at RDU simply took the form and added it to the 2" high pile beside him. He didn't even turn the form over to look at the list of declared foods!
My flight wasn't even full (maybe 80% capacity) so it's crazy, to me at least, to think that Customs didn't even scan both sides of the form before letting me through...
NC Penguin
Dec 30th 2003, 3:41 pm
#2
Forum Regular
Joined: Dec 2003
Location: London
Posts: 131
I've had amazing luck with my flights over the past couple of years (ie. post Sept 11th). I've never had anyone sat next to me on an outbound or return flight (to LA) and have been upgraded twice. That being said returning from Thanksgiving in November my United flight did get delayed by 18 hours! But since I'd only paid £150 for the flight (inc taxes) and got put up and fed in the Hilton I wasn't overly bothered! Its easy to see how all the American firms are going into Chapter 11 and British Airways is struggling so much!
Dec 30th 2003, 3:43 pm
#3
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2003
Location: Arizona
Posts: 961
Re: Carrying Foods Back from Blighty
Originally posted by NC Penguin
I thought I'd share with you my experience yesterday flying from Gatwick to RDU (Raleigh Durham "International" Airport, NC).
Between my spouse and myself we'd amassed the following foods in our nine days in the UK that we transported with us back to the US:
9 boxes X 160 bags of Sainsburys 'Gold Label' tea
4 jars of fish paste
1 roll of choc digestives (the big size)
6 boxes of soup (36 sachets total)
4 boxes of chocs (varying sizes)
1 large Marmite (3rd biggest size available)
1 med. Colemans mustard
4 packets of sweet snack bars
1 family size tin of McVities biscuits
We declared all this on the US customs form as varying types of food.
What happened when I got to Customs?
A) The Customs guy at RDU simply took the form and added it to the 2" high pile beside him. He didn't even turn the form over to look at the list of declared foods!
My flight wasn't even full (maybe 80% capacity) so it's crazy, to me at least, to think that Customs didn't even scan both sides of the form before letting me through...
NC Penguin
I thought I'd share with you my experience yesterday flying from Gatwick to RDU (Raleigh Durham "International" Airport, NC).
Between my spouse and myself we'd amassed the following foods in our nine days in the UK that we transported with us back to the US:
9 boxes X 160 bags of Sainsburys 'Gold Label' tea
4 jars of fish paste
1 roll of choc digestives (the big size)
6 boxes of soup (36 sachets total)
4 boxes of chocs (varying sizes)
1 large Marmite (3rd biggest size available)
1 med. Colemans mustard
4 packets of sweet snack bars
1 family size tin of McVities biscuits
We declared all this on the US customs form as varying types of food.
What happened when I got to Customs?
A) The Customs guy at RDU simply took the form and added it to the 2" high pile beside him. He didn't even turn the form over to look at the list of declared foods!
My flight wasn't even full (maybe 80% capacity) so it's crazy, to me at least, to think that Customs didn't even scan both sides of the form before letting me through...
NC Penguin
Dec 30th 2003, 3:50 pm
#4
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 68,280
Re: Carrying Foods Back from Blighty
9 boxes X 160 bags of Sainsburys 'Gold Label' tea
Dec 31st 2003, 4:50 pm
#5
UK & US Citizen
Joined: Jul 2003
Location: New Orleans
Posts: 1,276
A couple of years ago I filled a suitcase with various British foodstuffs including two industrial size containers of HP sauce, they must have been about 2 litres each. I bought the ones that came in plastic - didn't want glass that would break. 
When I arrived back in the States at the airport and picked up my suitcases, there was a strange fruity/vinegar kind of smell coming from the food suitcase. Customs paid it absolutely zero attention, I guess the dogs aren't trained for that smell!
I waited until I got back to the car before I opened the suitcase and sure enough, even though it was wrapped in towels, one of the HP sauce containers had split. HP sauce was everywhere!
Luckily, everthing else in the suitcase was still sealed and intact, just needed wiping off. Had to throw the towels away though!
When I arrived back in the States at the airport and picked up my suitcases, there was a strange fruity/vinegar kind of smell coming from the food suitcase. Customs paid it absolutely zero attention, I guess the dogs aren't trained for that smell!
I waited until I got back to the car before I opened the suitcase and sure enough, even though it was wrapped in towels, one of the HP sauce containers had split. HP sauce was everywhere!
Luckily, everthing else in the suitcase was still sealed and intact, just needed wiping off. Had to throw the towels away though!
Jan 1st 2004, 4:11 am
#6
Guest
Posts: n/a
This Crimbo my mum brought:
grapefruit marmalade
paxo stuffing
catering box of chocolate santas
large tin of Quality Street plus refill
vacuum packed cooked chestnuts
bisto gravy granules
Chanel 5 perfume and body lotion - woohoo!
They took her Christmas crackers off her at Manchester airport because of the gunpowder and refused to let her pull out the cracker strips. She told them, At least give them to someone who'll use them rather than chucking them - they were apparently very nice ones. Got an inferior replacement at World Market.
She should be landing back in Manchester in about half an hour.
My 9-year-old niece who came with her wants to live in America when she grows up solely because of Krispy Kreme.
We've had a mad rush holiday and are looking forward to a bit of peace etc. Hope you guys have had a merry crimbo/hannukah/solstice/holiday season and have a great New Year.
OH - stop press - I took my US driving test and passed and have gone native and am drivin' a li'l ole truckie!
Regards
-=-
Scarlett
grapefruit marmalade
paxo stuffing
catering box of chocolate santas
large tin of Quality Street plus refill
vacuum packed cooked chestnuts
bisto gravy granules
Chanel 5 perfume and body lotion - woohoo!
They took her Christmas crackers off her at Manchester airport because of the gunpowder and refused to let her pull out the cracker strips. She told them, At least give them to someone who'll use them rather than chucking them - they were apparently very nice ones. Got an inferior replacement at World Market.
She should be landing back in Manchester in about half an hour.
My 9-year-old niece who came with her wants to live in America when she grows up solely because of Krispy Kreme.
We've had a mad rush holiday and are looking forward to a bit of peace etc. Hope you guys have had a merry crimbo/hannukah/solstice/holiday season and have a great New Year.
OH - stop press - I took my US driving test and passed and have gone native and am drivin' a li'l ole truckie!
Regards
-=-
Scarlett
Jan 2nd 2004, 5:54 pm
#7
my arm aches
Joined: Jul 2003
Location: the warm waters of Florida
Posts: 2,289
Had my Tescos gravy granules confiscated yesterday 
because of mad cow disease. How ironic when the disease is over here and not in the UK anymore?
because of mad cow disease. How ironic when the disease is over here and not in the UK anymore?
Jan 2nd 2004, 6:01 pm
#8
Not living a 9 to 5 life
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2002
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 11,061
Originally posted by ladyofthelake
Had my Tescos gravy granules confiscated yesterday because of mad cow disease. How ironic when the disease is over here and not in the UK anymore?
Had my Tescos gravy granules confiscated yesterday
because of mad cow disease. How ironic when the disease is over here and not in the UK anymore?
AND anyone who lived in the UK from '95 onwards cannot give blood, according to the American Red Cross, because the person may have contracted CJD.
What about Americans who visit the UK for business or pleasure? Can the US government be sure that they didn't eat any beef in the UK AND they haven't contracted CJD too?
NC Penguin
Jan 2nd 2004, 6:02 pm
#9
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 68,280
Originally posted by ladyofthelake
Had my Tescos gravy granules confiscated yesterday because of mad cow disease. How ironic when the disease is over here and not in the UK anymore?
Had my Tescos gravy granules confiscated yesterday
because of mad cow disease. How ironic when the disease is over here and not in the UK anymore?
Jan 2nd 2004, 10:02 pm
#10
my arm aches
Joined: Jul 2003
Location: the warm waters of Florida
Posts: 2,289
I know, time flies dosen't it?
I looked at the Bisto gravy granules I have in the cupboard here and there's no mention of beef products but maybe Tesco's (which I had) is different? If not, I'm even more miffed!
I looked at the Bisto gravy granules I have in the cupboard here and there's no mention of beef products but maybe Tesco's (which I had) is different? If not, I'm even more miffed!
Jan 10th 2004, 4:04 am
#11
Just Joined
Joined: Jan 2004
Location: Roswell GA
Posts: 5
Re: Carrying Foods Back from Blighty
I'm confused!
If they confiscate Bisto gravy granules when you come through customs because they are afraid of mad cow disease. Why o why can I buy Bisto gravy granules at Harry's Farmers market? Along with lots of Dairy Milk (way better than Hersheys, even my American hubby agrees), Mars bars, spotted dick, Typhoo tea bags and various other chocolatey treats. They even had Mr Kipling's Cherry Bakewells and mini battenburgs. I could go there and spend a small fortune once a month. Anyway I digress, obviously Bisto gravy is only dangerous if you bring it into the country in your luggage and not at all dangerous if imported by a wholesaler!
Makes you wonder!
If they confiscate Bisto gravy granules when you come through customs because they are afraid of mad cow disease. Why o why can I buy Bisto gravy granules at Harry's Farmers market? Along with lots of Dairy Milk (way better than Hersheys, even my American hubby agrees), Mars bars, spotted dick, Typhoo tea bags and various other chocolatey treats. They even had Mr Kipling's Cherry Bakewells and mini battenburgs. I could go there and spend a small fortune once a month. Anyway I digress, obviously Bisto gravy is only dangerous if you bring it into the country in your luggage and not at all dangerous if imported by a wholesaler!
Makes you wonder!
Jan 10th 2004, 4:07 am
#12
Just Joined
Joined: Jan 2004
Location: Roswell GA
Posts: 5
Re: Carrying Foods Back from Blighty
Oops I'm sorry. I just realised that it was Tescos gravy granules not Bisto. My bad. Maybe US customs has a problem with Tescos, next time try Asda because it's part of Walmart and they'll probably let you keep the gravy.
Jan 10th 2004, 12:51 pm
#13
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2002
Location: Birmingham, USA
Posts: 802
Re: Carrying Foods Back from Blighty
Originally posted by effi
My friend came back to Philly last summer from a trip to UK. She brought back with her about $300 worth of chocolate. The customs confiscated it because they said it was made from milk and they were worried about mad cow disease. Yeah right!!!!
My friend came back to Philly last summer from a trip to UK. She brought back with her about $300 worth of chocolate. The customs confiscated it because they said it was made from milk and they were worried about mad cow disease. Yeah right!!!!
LOL
Sheet, that is lame, but the ever-increasing security is going to cause problems like this. I don't think you need to declare groceries. It's just food.
Jan 10th 2004, 9:27 pm
#14
Not living a 9 to 5 life
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2002
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 11,061
Re: Carrying Foods Back from Blighty
Originally posted by jaytee
LOL
Sheet, that is lame, but the ever-increasing security is going to cause problems like this. I don't think you need to declare groceries. It's just food.
LOL
Sheet, that is lame, but the ever-increasing security is going to cause problems like this. I don't think you need to declare groceries. It's just food.
We forgot (genuinely) to declare cosmetics, underwear, a DVD (Region 2 but we hacked our DVD player to play all regions), and Christmas presents from friends and family.
NC Penguin
Jan 10th 2004, 9:46 pm
#15
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 68,280
Re: Carrying Foods Back from Blighty
Originally posted by jaytee
LOL
Sheet, that is lame, but the ever-increasing security is going to cause problems like this. I don't think you need to declare groceries. It's just food.
LOL
Sheet, that is lame, but the ever-increasing security is going to cause problems like this. I don't think you need to declare groceries. It's just food.