Forum Discussion

coachellacanuck's avatar
Nov 17, 2016

Hot dog! It's time to leave for Cali, but "hot dogs" ok?

We really don't like any brand of US hot dogs and really miss our Schneider's Red Hots when we are away from Canada.

Can we bring processed meats like hot dogs and bacon into the US? I was thinking of freezing several packages.

Mu husband lives in the US full time while I only spend winter there and he is always asking me if I have found a way to ship some to him, too.

14 Replies

  • If the border check says no you out a few bucks of hot dogs - no big deal. Better "dogs" are usually sold in specialty stores or farmers markets in the USA - s/b easy to find with Google. Std hot dogs in USA major grocery stores have the same ingredients as your favorite Canadian dog - pork, Water, Modified Corn Starch, Modified Milk Ingredients, Salt, Potassium, Lactate, Sodium Erythorbate, SodiuDiacetate, Sodium Nitrate, Spice, Wheat, Flour, Garlic Powder, Smoke etc.
  • It won't land you in jail, but you could spend significant time waiting in line to be inspected. We had some home grown green beans we brought back from Bowen Island, that the US Customs wanted to see. We waited in line for about 30 minutes, then an inspector carefully examined our entire vehicle while we waited inside the office. Then a few more questions, and we had spent nearly an hour in all. The green beans were OK after they were examined under a microscope.

    The day before, I got on the US Customs website to check on green beans, that seemed to be OK to me to bring into the US. I asked the agent about it and she said that the requirements change daily, and it is hard for even them to keep current.
  • No one here will have an official answer for you.

    I've never had my freezer checked going through the border. Only a few times they've asked about produce. If not asked directly, don't volunteer.

    Honestly, if they do search your freezer, and for some reason take offense to packages of hot dogs, they're just going to make you throw them out or eat them first.

    What's the worry? Hot dogs aren't going to land you in jail or earn you a huge ticket.