Crossing border from Canada to USA

easycamper wrote:
They must have a feast in the border agent's lunchroom.

. :)

Easycamper; If it is NOT good enough for you to eat, what gives you the idea the border guards have a feast in their lunchroom? I doubt very much that these folks would risk a well-paid job just so they could eat your orange. When the guards seize your contraband food items, those items are disposed of onsite to prevent "pests" inside the food item from harming the U.S. agriculture. If your statement was a joke, so be it, Ha ha. :) If you were serious when you made your statement, you might want to look at the whole picture. No border guard on either side would lose their hard earned career by consuming something seized from your food cabinet. Good day.

Lakeside

We cross a couple of times a year. We bring a bare minimum with us across the border in both directions and do a grocery shop after crossing. It just saves hassle. We have had food confiscated a few times. They must have a feast in the border agent's lunchroom.

Although it is a bit funny that on the way into Canada, they ask if you have any alcohol, tobacco or firearms. On the way into the US they ask if you have any fruits or vegetables. :)

We stopped at the border and talked to the supervisor about what we were allowed to bring into the US. We asked about meat packaging and how other food items need to be marked. She explained everything very clearly but her final sentence was "But it depends on the agent on duty that day". So declare everything and be prepared to leave it at the border if the agent doesn't allow it.

It certainly makes a difference if you're coming home vs. entering as a visitor. Sometimes, I think they ask questions that they already know the answer to, just to see if you lie about it. On the way into Canada, I was asked if I'd ever been finger printed. I truly didn't know the answer for sure, so I told him maybe when I joined the Navy, but I just didn't remember. And I still don't know the answer to that. At the time, it had been 30 years ago.
As I was sitting there in line, I saw an RV owner off to the side while customs officials finished removing everything out of it that wasn't welded down. He was clean, but had to put everything back by himself.
Coming home to the U.S. I was waved thru and barely had to slow down. I suspect that they know more about what they're specifically looking for than we do.
Strangely, when I crossed the border into Alaska and back into Canada on my way home, I was also waved thru.

While the answers given above worked for the people that experienced the crossing, every situation is different. They use the words "may" or "generally accepted", because all food stuffs are different and they don't know what the ingredients that are in Aunt Tilly's homemade spaghetti sauce.

I know you stated that you don't like government websites, but the government official at the border will be the deciding factor. So you need to persevere in you research.

This website gives some pretty clear information on food items not allowed. Or you can just show up with your stuff and accept the judgment of the U.S. Customs official. Worst case scenario, they grab your stuff and give you a hassle. Just make sure that you declare everything on board, and tell no lies, or the hassle gets exponentially larger. And remember you have to cross back into Canada and they have different rules.

When I cross the border either way, I take as little as possible. You can buy food once you are across. I had a relative who worked for Canadian Customs, so I learned how to get by with few or no problems. But you had to know the rules.

We lived in a border community and DW has relatives in Canada.
I keep trying, but noone can tell me what is on the US prohibited list that day. So, we do our best to not bring back anything fresh or that was not canned in the US. Yes, our people are not all that swift - Sorry.

Matt

Canned, frozen is ok for most items. Bring your meat pork eggs and chicken too. Make sure it has the labels on from the store and it is fine. Most fruits are out and some vegies so best to wait until you get across. Leave potatoes off your list as they are always on the hit list. If you have a pet make sure there is no lamb in the food or they will get you there. We go all the time and find we just buy fruits and veggies when we get there and everything else we can take as in any other trip.

I've never had a problem with frozen goods since the ban on beef products was lifted a few years back. However, that ban could possibly be on again. We buy a lot of frozen pork products in Canada - never had a problem. I make a list of food items on board, and have had to get rid of a few produce and fruit items. I hand the list to the agent - makes it very convenient for all. I also keep a list of all goods purchased in Canada as well as the amount and hand that to the agent. The US Dept. of Agriculture has an extensive list of allowed and prohibited products, but it takes a bit to wade through it to find what you want. Unless it's something you can't get in the US, best to keep it to a very minimum. And we have a great phenomenon in the US - WALLY WORLD! They have all kinds of food items... :-)

(missed my annual raid of Vancouver Island this year)

GM

Although the idea of having something already to heat and eat is appealing it really poses all sorts of unnecessary problems at border inspections.
We have been RV ing from Canada to Mexixco for many Years . Having no fresh or frozen Food has made crossing the various borders so much easier.
There is nothing that complicates life more than rules !
If You plan Your trip ,there will be ample opportunities to stock up on groceries along the way!

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