Food Allowed into New York State from Ontario

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M

Metalman RVer

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Dec 3, 2016
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Well, here I am back again!  This series of questions would likely be more directed at our Canadian friends............We have our first trip planned with our Glendale RV 5th wheel shortly into NY State & I wanted to check in to see what all we are allowed to bring into the US (specifically NY State) food/beverage wise, for a short 2 1/2 day trip to sort of get our feet wet into the RV world.  With no experience I wanted to ask if we could pack our fridge & freezer with enough items, so we do not need to stop at a grocery store to tie us over for this little trip.

We would bring things like, frozen burgers, wieners, bread, hamburg/hotdog buns, chips, a few raw veggies, perhaps a couple of frozen casserole leftovers that are currently in the freezer, eggs, bacon & a few cans of beer.  We would not bring any fruits.

Would those things most likely be allowed, or are we better off to buy what we need once over there?

Thanks
 
I also seem to remember to keep food in their original packaging so they can see when it was packaged.
 
All the times we've crossed the border in both directions, we've never been asked about food.
 
It is really best to purchase meat, dairy and vegetable products in the US, the customs agent may or may not confiscate. Buy your beer stateside, it is generally a LOT cheaper and you will be astounded by the selection, don't forget the duty free store when you return. We got checked for lamb or goat in the dog food. ::)
 
Alfa38User said:
The only place to check this officially is on on the US government web site. But be aware, the information may not be up-to-date as it changes often and quickly. (Or.... the individual customs service officers are not.) 
https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/1273/~/food--bring-personal-use-food-into-the-u.s.-from-canada

Be ready for a full inspection of the RV including the fridge and freezer.
Click to expand...

We've spent most of the past four summers in Canada and have NEVER had anyone come inside to inspect and only once have we even had anyone ask us about food although we have tried to be compliant before going through the checkpoint.  Leave "country of origin" stickers on fruit and keep meats in their store packages if you're worried.  Learn the few idiosyncrasies of the rules--for example, beef and pork bought in Canada are Ok to bring across but lamb is not.

The key thing is that if a guard at the border asks "do you have such and such?" answer truthfully even if it means having to get rid of something.  Lying is a serious crime and can get you in lots of trouble and that's true going across the border in either direction!
 
The last time we returned from Canada we crossed over at Blaine, WA.  They asked what fruit or veggies we had.  We had a few cutie oranges in the portable cooler sitting beside us in the truck.  I showed them what we had in the cooler.  They said they wanted to inspect our trailer.  We pulled into the inspection area and they went through everything while we waited inside the customs office.  They came back with another four cutie oranges and some cloves of garlic, which they kept.  They said they were taking those because they were not in their original package.  Everything else was OK.
 
BigLarry said:
  They came back with another four cutie oranges and some cloves of garlic, which they kept.  They said they were taking those because they were not in their original package. 
Click to expand...

They must have been hungry
 
We just crossed the border today from BC into Montana at Roosville. Only questions,  destination? And did we have anything to declare that we purchased in Canada? We didn't have anything. Never asked about food. We were never asked about food going into Canada or Alaska or on our returns to each. Only time we were asked about agriculture was when we entered California from Arizona.
 
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