Melnq8

<(Aussie Customs had half a mind to lock me up after I copped to not eating an orange on the plane and having it in my bag - it was pre-9/11 so they just fussed at me).>

It's the admission that saved you. Quarantine restrictions in Australia and NZ are extremely strict - fresh fruit and veg and god-forbid, eggs, are some of the worst things you could possibly bring in. Bringing honey into Western Australia is a huge no-no too.

I've had rocks picked out of the treads of my hiking boots before being let into NZ and had pecans confiscated before entering Australia, so I can imagine the fuss they made over an orange.

Both countries are very protective of their agriculture and wilderness areas, and rightly so.

Back to the topic at hand.

sparkchaser

<i>There are dogs who sniff for drugs, there are dogs who sniff for food and there are dogs who sniff for large amounts of cash. There are also dogs who sniff for explosives.</i>

Then there are dogs that like to sniff crotches.

bilboburgler

"Eggs are eggs except bringing eggs already cooked would require refrigeration (shouldn't be left out more than 2 hours) and would stink."

Goodness knows how the eggs in UK supermarkets survive on the room temperature shelves day after day, let alone in my house. Eggs last for weeks at room temperature.

sparkchaser

Aye.

ira

Hey zx,

It is highly unlikely that you will not be able to get the foods you require after you arrive, unless a special blessing is required.

In general, you will not be allowed to bring fresh fruits, vegetables and meat.

Enjoy your visit.

kybourbon

>>>Goodness knows how the eggs in UK supermarkets survive on the room temperature shelves day after day, let alone in my house. Eggs last for weeks at room temperature.<<<

The grocery stores have shelves of cooked eggs? I have never seen that in groceries I've been in while traveling. I have seen fresh eggs at room temperature, but that is not the same thing. Cooked foods breed bacteria at room temperature in a very short time. FYI - They might not kill you, just give you nasty intestinal symptoms. Ick.

Raw eggs unrefrigerated keep 7-10 days. Refrigerated keep 4-5 weeks. Cooked eggs refrigerated keep 7-10 days. Cooked eggs not refrigerated start to deteriorate and grow bacteria after two hours.

The real reason American eggs are sold refrigerated and European eggs are not is that American eggs are washed before packaging to remove any feces contamination. European eggs are not washed. Washing removes the cuticle which could allow bacteria to enter the shell thus refrigeration required from that point. European eggs must stay dry to maintain the cuticle protection. Refrigerating unwashed eggs can make moisture form and remove the cuticle allowing bacteria to enter the egg.

Michael

It just occurred to me that the OP might be following some strict dietary rules. My relative in Berlin used to tell the story of visitors from Israel coming for a visit with a suitcase full of food because they did not think that they could find kosher food in Berlin.

starrs

Kosher fruit?

Nikki

There could be any number of reasons a person would want to bring food. I would assume there was a reason before I criticized them for it.

nytraveler

I am not aware that fruits or vegetables can be kosher.

Perhaps someone want to eat only fruits or vegetables grown without any pesticides (practically impossible to find here - but I would think no more difficult in europe).

I'm now really intrigued what this person is thinking/ planning.

And yes, hard boiled eggs would be rotten by the time the plane lands in europe.

And how could someone bring a couple of weeks worth of food with them???

DebitNM

Though I doubt <i>kashrut</i> is the reason:

http://www.chabad.org/library/articl...Vegetables.htm

sparkchaser

<i>And yes, hard boiled eggs would be rotten by the time the plane lands in europe. </i>

False.

Unless the plane is flying in from Mars.

sparkchaser

<i>And how could someone bring a couple of weeks worth of food with them???</i>

Easily.

Sassafrass

KYbourbon,

That was a very good explanation about the eggs. I enjoyed learning more about storing them. Thanks.

MissPrism

Well you can't be too careful with food in foreign parts


http://youtu.be/gtafgQGiU3I

vjpblovesitaly

I knew what that link was before opening it. It is so funny; I remember seeing it in the past.

StCirq

OMG, that's priceless! Chipmunk and squirrel...LOL!

vinoroma

If you don't rinse hardboiled eggs after boiling them, they will keep a month at room temperature. If you rinse after boiling, water (and its natural bacteria) enter through the pores of the shell (due to temperature difference, osmosis, etc) and spoil it quickly. German supermarkets are full with unrefrigerated industrially colored hardboiled eggs and they keep for 3 months (they have a special paint that seals the pores in the shell and prevents bacteria from entering).

But i am also intrigued as to why the op wants to bring all these foods from usa to europe, for me no health or religious reason explains it, as all of these are easily found in europe in halal, kosher, organic, biodynamic, pesticide-free, etc etc forms.

nytraveler

Chipmunk and squirrel - where do they think they are appalachia?

I must admit there are some British things I don't eat - no organ meats or sausages and I can't deal with the hot breakfasts (don't eat eggs and bacon at home either) - but the things people believe are incredible.

And hard boiled eggs as prepared in the US (boiled and then rinsed in cold water to make peeling easier) would be bad by then without refrigeration.

But WHY bring weeks worth of food?

nukesafe

This is a puzzlement.

The OP has posted quite a bit on the Forum, and has even given us a trip report on Ireland. Surely she/he must have been able to cobble together some sort of diet without having to resort to bringing steamer trunks of "shelf stable meals".

I do wish he/she would come back and slake our curiosity.