What foods are allowed to bring into the UK from the US?
Oct 15th, 2012, 07:22 AM
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What foods are allowed to bring into the UK from the US?
I am trying to get a good answer as to what foods are allowed into the UK when traveling from the US. I have done several searches online and have looked at the Defra booklets. I also tried calling Defra and when transferred to another person perhaps in a different division(?), the connection was so poor, I couldn't hear what the person was saying - frustrating! I have also emailed them, however, they have a potential 15 day turnaround and I am traveling in less than a week.
Yes, I know there is plenty of food in London! My son is studying there for the semester and he and others have requested a few things like Kraft Mac and Cheese, Creamy Chicken Ramen noodles, Lipton Cup of Soup, hot chocolate packets (unfortunately, my son's home stay will not allow use of the stove/oven and so they are restricted to using the microwave for any cooking they wish to do--certainly makes things more challenging and more expensive.) All of these seem to me that there should be no issue, however, each does have something on the ingredient list that could fall into the restricted zone as outlined by the Defra booklet.
Does anyone have any information regarding this? Or, a good contact number in the UK? Or, is the best suggestion to not worry about it, since none of it is fresh food, pack it and go through the green customs line?
Thank you!
Yes, I know there is plenty of food in London! My son is studying there for the semester and he and others have requested a few things like Kraft Mac and Cheese, Creamy Chicken Ramen noodles, Lipton Cup of Soup, hot chocolate packets (unfortunately, my son's home stay will not allow use of the stove/oven and so they are restricted to using the microwave for any cooking they wish to do--certainly makes things more challenging and more expensive.) All of these seem to me that there should be no issue, however, each does have something on the ingredient list that could fall into the restricted zone as outlined by the Defra booklet.
Does anyone have any information regarding this? Or, a good contact number in the UK? Or, is the best suggestion to not worry about it, since none of it is fresh food, pack it and go through the green customs line?
Thank you!
Oct 15th, 2012, 07:34 AM
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Packaged foods such as those you describe above should not be a problem. But you need to ask UK customs NOT Delta Airlines. They would not be able to give you a reliable answer. The biggest problem foods are generally fresh produce or meat products, but there could be UK-specific restrictions.
Here is a link to the UK Customs web site. But you really have to do your own research. http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/cu...ravel/customs/
Here is a link to the UK Customs web site. But you really have to do your own research. http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/cu...ravel/customs/
Oct 15th, 2012, 07:45 AM
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Haven't they discovered Pot Noodle (I think that's the brand)? Staple of many UK student diets. Lots of microwavable soups available as well.
Decent to very good fresh, ready-made meals and salads are avaiable as well although I appreciate some may be outside their budget.
Maybe you would do them a bigger favor by taking them grocery shopping.
That said, I really, really miss Orville Redenbacker microwave popcorn, haven't found it in France or on trips to the UK.
Decent to very good fresh, ready-made meals and salads are avaiable as well although I appreciate some may be outside their budget.
Maybe you would do them a bigger favor by taking them grocery shopping.
That said, I really, really miss Orville Redenbacker microwave popcorn, haven't found it in France or on trips to the UK.
Oct 15th, 2012, 08:21 AM
#5
Doug -the OP meant DEFRA, not Delta. That is like the Dept of Ag in the USA.
NMMaui: All of those are fine. Plus peanut butter etc. Don't bring any fresh food or meat products and you'll be fine. But I agree, most of those things are available in the UK.
NMMaui: All of those are fine. Plus peanut butter etc. Don't bring any fresh food or meat products and you'll be fine. But I agree, most of those things are available in the UK.
Oct 15th, 2012, 08:25 AM
#6
Defra is famous in the UK civil service as taking the people who failed in the rest of the service and I've spent 2 years working with them recently and it can be very slow, so customs are the people you need to talk to. Janisj has it right.
Oct 15th, 2012, 08:36 AM
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I can understand missing essentials like mac and cheese from home 
Part of the adventure can be finding these things in the UK as well. Pot Noodle is the obvious one, just add hot water to get your soup. There are also tonnes of places to get hot chocolate so I wouldnt think there is a need to bring that stuff. Peanut butter and cinnamon gum are my guilty pleasures from Canada
Part of the adventure can be finding these things in the UK as well. Pot Noodle is the obvious one, just add hot water to get your soup. There are also tonnes of places to get hot chocolate so I wouldnt think there is a need to bring that stuff. Peanut butter and cinnamon gum are my guilty pleasures from Canada
Oct 15th, 2012, 08:40 AM
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Sorry ... I misunderstood. In any case, the list of things that can and can't be taken in is pretty straightforward. It's fresh dairy and meat that are the main concern, not powdered milk ingredients.
Oct 15th, 2012, 08:42 AM
#9
i can assure you that if they venture into a decent supermarket, they will find more than enough tasteless processed cheese, peanut butter and pot noodles to last them a [student] lifetime.
never seen cinnamon gum though.
cinnamon gum?
never seen cinnamon gum though.
cinnamon gum?
Oct 15th, 2012, 09:20 AM
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Batchelor's Cupasoup is identical in every wayto Lipton's, except for the name on the packet. They are made by the smae company - Unilever.
Pot noodles, the student staple are widely available in supermarkets in the UK in a wide variety of flavours.
Microwavable hot chocolate is also available, as is a wide range of brands of peanut butter.
Your son needs to get to his local Tescos and open his eyes. He'll probably even find Kraft Mac and cheese if he looks, though that one is more doubtful.
He will even find a wide range of tasty fresh complete meals for in the microwave, should he feel the need for some vitamins.
Cinnamon gum is a peculiarly North American thing however.
I would not fill a suitcase with foodstuffs he can find easily enough in Britain.
Pot noodles, the student staple are widely available in supermarkets in the UK in a wide variety of flavours.
Microwavable hot chocolate is also available, as is a wide range of brands of peanut butter.
Your son needs to get to his local Tescos and open his eyes. He'll probably even find Kraft Mac and cheese if he looks, though that one is more doubtful.
He will even find a wide range of tasty fresh complete meals for in the microwave, should he feel the need for some vitamins.
Cinnamon gum is a peculiarly North American thing however.
I would not fill a suitcase with foodstuffs he can find easily enough in Britain.
Oct 15th, 2012, 09:24 AM
#12
He'll probably even find Kraft Mac and cheese if he looks, though that one is more doubtful.>>
not sure about the Mac, [what is that?] but definitely the kraft processed cheese is there on the shelves.
not sure about the Mac, [what is that?] but definitely the kraft processed cheese is there on the shelves.
Oct 15th, 2012, 09:25 AM
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According to the wonderful world of wikipedia Kraft Mac and Cheese is sold as Cheesey Pasta in the UK and available at Tesco and other high class purveyors of processed foods.
As for the others try websites such as
http://www.americansoda.co.uk/uk/Ame...e/default.aspx
if they miss home comforts - though it sounds like you're getting together some Red Cross food parcels!
As for the others try websites such as
http://www.americansoda.co.uk/uk/Ame...e/default.aspx
if they miss home comforts - though it sounds like you're getting together some Red Cross food parcels!
Oct 15th, 2012, 09:27 AM
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Thank you for your quick replies. He has ventured into many supermarkets thus far and I think it gets overwhelming when nothing looks the same. He is certainly easily able to get fresh fruit and bread, etc. and would prefer to make himself a good meal - as I mentioned, a bit more challenging when you can't use the oven or stove. It is those easy things from home that would be appreciated at this point that can be made in a hurry. I agree, not exactly the things I would miss...tasteless as they may be to many of us.
Yes, I meant Defra, not Delta! This is from the Defra pamphlet: Meat products include any fresh, cooked or dried meat such as beef, lamb, pork or chicken and such products as patties, curries, ham, biltong, pot noodles which contain meat, meatballs, meat pickles, cured or cooked sausage, pate and meat paste. dairy products include fresh, dried or concentrated milk, cream, butter, ghee, mithai, cheese and products containing fresh cream.
It is the dried part that got me - dried meat, dried or concentrated milk - although cheese just says cheese with no qualifiers. Does dried not mean powdered?
I will mention Pot Noodle to him as a brand to look for the next time he grocery shops - thanks! I have mentioned Marks and Spencer to him many times as a place I have heard has lots of ready made easy to microwave type meals. I imagine that would get expensive though. Sandwiches are easy, it is the hot meals that are more difficult. I love to go to grocery stores when traveling to check things out, so hopefully we will have a chance to check it out together.
Yes, I meant Defra, not Delta! This is from the Defra pamphlet: Meat products include any fresh, cooked or dried meat such as beef, lamb, pork or chicken and such products as patties, curries, ham, biltong, pot noodles which contain meat, meatballs, meat pickles, cured or cooked sausage, pate and meat paste. dairy products include fresh, dried or concentrated milk, cream, butter, ghee, mithai, cheese and products containing fresh cream.
It is the dried part that got me - dried meat, dried or concentrated milk - although cheese just says cheese with no qualifiers. Does dried not mean powdered?
I will mention Pot Noodle to him as a brand to look for the next time he grocery shops - thanks! I have mentioned Marks and Spencer to him many times as a place I have heard has lots of ready made easy to microwave type meals. I imagine that would get expensive though. Sandwiches are easy, it is the hot meals that are more difficult. I love to go to grocery stores when traveling to check things out, so hopefully we will have a chance to check it out together.
Oct 15th, 2012, 09:39 AM
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Here's an article with a picture of Cheesy Pasta by Kraft so you'll know what to look out for in the UK.
http://healthychild.org/blog/comment...ese_smackdown/
Yes, the UK version is healthier
Do take your son shopping at his local supermarket. I'm sure he'll discover there's everything he needs right there.
Students often buy ready meals (fresh food from supermarkets like Waitrose or Sainsburys and M&S) that are reduced for quick sale.
Often meals are discounted around 4pm by as much as 50%.
http://healthychild.org/blog/comment...ese_smackdown/
Yes, the UK version is healthier
Do take your son shopping at his local supermarket. I'm sure he'll discover there's everything he needs right there.
Students often buy ready meals (fresh food from supermarkets like Waitrose or Sainsburys and M&S) that are reduced for quick sale.
Often meals are discounted around 4pm by as much as 50%.
Oct 15th, 2012, 10:20 AM
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Well that list means no Chicken Ramen noodles, no Mac and Cheese, no cup of soups which contain any meat or meat product. So your suitcase is safe.
As Sassy_cat says students look for the discounted food at the end of the day - they have a coloured sticker on them usually. The colour depends on the supermarket.
My son would get himself a roast chicken, and baking potatoes and salad or microwavable veg. Would do him a couple of days for not a lot of money.
Other good sources for good cheap hot food are Ikea restaurants, and the in house cafes at supermarkets. Some pubs offer two for a tenner meals if one of his mates wants to eat with him.
As Sassy_cat says students look for the discounted food at the end of the day - they have a coloured sticker on them usually. The colour depends on the supermarket.
My son would get himself a roast chicken, and baking potatoes and salad or microwavable veg. Would do him a couple of days for not a lot of money.
Other good sources for good cheap hot food are Ikea restaurants, and the in house cafes at supermarkets. Some pubs offer two for a tenner meals if one of his mates wants to eat with him.
Oct 15th, 2012, 10:21 AM
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Well that list means no Chicken Ramen noodles, no Mac and Cheese, no cup of soups which contain any meat or meat product. So your suitcase is safe.
As Sassy_cat says students look for the discounted food at the end of the day - they have a coloured sticker on them usually. The colour depends on the supermarket.
My son would get himself a roast chicken, and baking potatoes and salad or microwavable veg. Would do him a couple of days for not a lot of money.
Other good sources for good cheap hot food are Ikea restaurants, and the in house cafes at supermarkets. Some pubs offer two for a tenner meals if one of his mates wants to eat with him.
As Sassy_cat says students look for the discounted food at the end of the day - they have a coloured sticker on them usually. The colour depends on the supermarket.
My son would get himself a roast chicken, and baking potatoes and salad or microwavable veg. Would do him a couple of days for not a lot of money.
Other good sources for good cheap hot food are Ikea restaurants, and the in house cafes at supermarkets. Some pubs offer two for a tenner meals if one of his mates wants to eat with him.
Oct 15th, 2012, 01:36 PM
#19
According to the wonderful world of wikipedia Kraft Mac and Cheese is sold as Cheesey Pasta in the UK and available at Tesco and other high class purveyors of processed foods.>>
I think that you can get that sort of thing in a pouch - very useful for microwave users.
re what hetismij says, you can get cheap cooked chickens from Tesco, also most supermarkets have a 'reduced" shelf. Their "value" or everyday ranges are also useful and cheap.
I think that you can get that sort of thing in a pouch - very useful for microwave users.
re what hetismij says, you can get cheap cooked chickens from Tesco, also most supermarkets have a 'reduced" shelf. Their "value" or everyday ranges are also useful and cheap.
Oct 15th, 2012, 01:52 PM
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I think, in general, people do eat healthier in the UK. As you have seen above, most things we are used to finding in US supermarkets are available in the UK under a different name or in a slightly different form. It was years before I realised that Tylenol (acetaminophen) is the same as paracetamol in the UK.
