Keep banned foodstuffs out of US

Personnel shipping household goods to the states this summer should be careful when packing the contents of their kitchen, agriculture officials advise.

The Bureau of Customs and Border Protection issues fines of $100 to $1,000 to first-time offenders who ignore the strict rules that apply to sending food products stateside.

“Red meats, sausages, pates and salami can harbor animal viruses, even if canned, and are therefore barred from import,” said Scott Sanner, U.S. Department of Agriculture adviser to the U.S. European Command.

Even pasta or soup mixes that contain dried meat are not allowed,  he added. Foot-and-mouth disease and bovine spongiform encephalopathy (also known as mad cow disease) are examples of animal diseases that need to be kept out of the U.S. this way.

Fresh fruits and vegetables may also not be sent to the U.S., because they can contain the eggs or larvae of voracious pests. The Mediterranean fruit fly is a good example of a bug that can hide in citrus and other fruits to beat defenses.

However, members can ship processed fruit and vegetable products, such as canned fruit, olive oil, mustard and canned or processed sauces. There are no restrictions on fish or mushrooms either, Sanner added. Commercially produced dried herbs and spices, tea, roasted coffee, cured cheeses, cakes, candies, cookies and roasted nuts are also OK.

To find out more about importing food and plant and animal products into the U.S., visit the CBP website at www.cbp.gov/travel/international-visitors/know-before-you-go.