I live in Germany and some friends from the US are coming to visit soon. They read a newpaper article that said US customs was getting very strict because of the foot and mouth problems, and that you can't take CHOCOLATE (or anything made with milk) back to the US from Europe! I just can't believe that. Does anyone know the scoop? Thanks!

I came through customs at the Charlotte, NC airport two days ago and there was no problem with chocolate. I specifically asked about candy and the official just waved me on. The only people the officials were interested in at all were the ones who had been on farms or in the countryside during their trip abroad.

Hi Paige, I returned from Amsterdam to Atlanta 2 days ago. I had no problems going through customs at all. There were some signs posted about Foot and Mouth but noone asked me anything about what I had brought back with me. I didn't notice any kind of problems with other people in the customs area either.

Friends visiting from Italy just brought me some chocolates. They had no problems with customs.

Great, but what happens at Customs to people who HAVE been to the countryside???<BR>

When we came through US Customs on Sunday on our TWA flight Paris-St. Louis (carrying a large bag full of boxed French chocolates), passengers were asked if they had been in the countryside, and those who answered in the affirmative (very, very few did so) were asked to step over to another area for "decontamination" of their shoes.

Went through San Francisco customs from Italy and Germany last week. They asked is I'd been in the country. Said no "meat or meat products". "Don't even think about it." Most passengers(not us) were sent through the Agricultual station and had their bags searched! No problem with chocklats. We had some. Don't know about cheese. We didn't try to bring any because we didn't know.

When you come into LAX they have huge signs that you can't bring any food items in at all, I think thats mostly produce (medflies and all that) but they post it all over the place. You need to toss out any produce you bring in... I don't know about chocolate but seeing chocolate thrown in a bin would distress me utterly!

We returned 2 weeks ago and came through St. Louis. They asked specific questions about whether we had been in the country in either Italy or France--which we had not. They did ask us if we had any fruit or food stuffs. We didn't so we were waved through. There were signs explaining that if you had been in the country your clothing had to go through decontamination in the airport. Marilyn

Well, that last remark sparked my interest. My mother, brother and I will be starting our holiday in London, then to Paris, and then we will be traveling extensively through the country side of France for about 3 plus weeks, then on to Germany, then Belgium and back to England. Do you see any problems with entering and reentering these countries. Also what is involved in this "decontamination" of ALL OF YOUR CLOTHING upon reentering the US if, in fact, you have been out in the countryside? (This trip in planned for July and part of August.) <BR><BR>Your responses are appreciated, Alice<BR><BR>

We arrived 3/30 at Boston Logan with chocolate from Italy. No problem!!

First, you should know there's a difference between "Mad Cow" disease and "Hoof (or foot) &amp; Mouth." Mad Cow affects only beef cows, not dairy cows. Dairy cows are &amp; have been fed completely different kinds of feed than the beef cows. Hoof &amp; Mouth can be carried by humans to hooved animals only, but it doesn't affect food products, necessarily. Long story short (sorry, too late), the milk or cream in chocolate should not be at all harmed by either of the two diseases.

Deb, that's what I thought. If the US won't allow travelers to bring in chocolate, I think they would also have to stop all imports of the same. Seems a bit extreme to me. My friends would would have a fit if customs seized their chocolates and tossed them in the garbage!!

Came back from Italy through Boston last week. The friend I was travelling with had a salami confiscated even though she had purchased it at the duty-free at the airport. Once they saw the salami they quizzed her about whether she'd been in the country, near animals, etc. When she said no, they waved her through. She was carrying chocolate also and they had no interest in it.

I came through customs in Canada and then connected to the US. They asked about all foods and had a dog sniff our luggage. We also had to walk over a soapy rug. I remember them asking me about candy, food and cheese. My luggage was also lost in Montreal!

I went through customs just yesterday. I entered the U.S. via Washington D.C.. No problem with chocolates or hard chesse of which both I had. When in doubt tell them all the food you brought even if you know its okay. One lady brought in a Korean food item called Kim-chee (sp?) She could not easily defend what was in it (it contained a bunch of stuff). She was immediately sent over to a separate area. Be cautious by volunteering much information &amp; the traveller should be fine. <BR><BR>Do a search on us customs as I did to find out details about whats good to enter into the U.S and what,s not.

Do they ask whether you've been in the "country" or just on "farms"? (I think there's a question always on the customs form asking whether you've been on a farm.) If "country" do they explain what's meant by "country"? (I.e. is it anything other than cities and major towns and walking on concrete, and would it include being in little town and walking on dirt roads on the outskirts?) Do they disinfect all your shoes or just the ones you're wearing? Do they spray or dip your other clothes? Does it make any difference if in the countryside you've been in only sheep and goats and pigs are raised, not beef cattle?

kelly fyi chim-chee is fermented cabbage with very liberal amoounts of garlic and very hot korean red pepper. its an aquired taste but i happen to like it

Not exactly a fool proof method is it? How easy is it to just say no, was only in the city and on your way you go.

We got back yesterday from a trip to Amsterdam and Belgium. We told customs that we had cheese and chocolate. They looked at our cheese to see if there was cheese with ham or other meat in it. The meatless cheese and chocolate is OK. While we were in Amsterdam several cheese shops said that we could not bring cheese back to the US. We eventually found one shop that gave us a goverment certificate that the cheese was OK to take back to the US. The Customs officials did not ask us for the certificate so I don't think it even mattered.