Rules for bringing food into Italy?

[GoodShipLollipopBop]

Can someone clarify for me just how strict the Italian border control is for bringing in food such as long life milk, chocolate, baked cakes etc.

I have some dietary requirements that would make life on holiday much easier if I could bring these things with me, but a quick google is saying they're now banned from going into the EU from the U.K. after Brexit. (Ugh bloody Brexit!! )

Has anyone attempted to bring this kind of thing into Italy from the U.K. recently?

Maybe ask the Italian Embassy? They'd know first hand.

It was fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds when we came in yesterday

Same as the rules for taking icecream to eskimo country I'd imagine 😜

Italy is pretty good for dairy and gluten free foods, apparently. So you might actually get better food that's fine for you when you're out there.

Are you travelling by land or plane?

Can someone clarify for me just how strict the Italian border control is for bringing in food such as long life milk, chocolate, baked cakes etc.

I'm pretty sure you can buy all these things in Italy and just about every other European country too.

Yes obviously they have all long life milk and cakes. But does anyone know if they have lactose free milk readily available in most supermarkets? Or low carb sugar free cakes made with almond flour? I doubt that as they're not available here in most shops so I have to make my own. And yes they'll have dark chocolate, and I'm sure 85% dark, but when I can't read and understand Italian packaging bringing my own would save me a lot of time and hassle in the super market wasting my family's precious holiday time.

This was just googled right now. You can do the same.

Lactose-free products:

mycornerofitaly.com/lactose-free-products-in-italy/

Reading an Italian chocolate label: en.bab.la/dictionary/english-italian/cocoa-solids Labels will be standard EU.

Friends of a relative said homemade food was ok, so they could bring a sandwich, but not packs of ham cheese etc.

Weird rulings not sure how to get a definitive answer.

Also can you bRing back all the delicious Italian food.

I'm surprised because I thought it was just fresh food - so anything prepacked and long life would be fine, but that's not what it implies here:

food.ec.europa.eu/animals/animal-products-movements/personal-imports_en

I bloody hate Brexit.

Thank you. Unfortunately the carb amount of that is still double what I normally have which is also why I want to bring my own. Obviously if I can't bring it then I'll have to make do or just have black espressos. At least I know what I'm looking for now

I travel to Italy quite regularly and I always bring food in and out of Italy without even checking. Maybe I should have! Having said that, I never had any problems.

Whereabouts in Italy?

where we stay in a small town in the south we have no problem getting a range of lactose free products in the local Conad (supermarket chain). Italians use a range of different flours - kamut, chickpea, rice - there is a variety there in terms of baked goods too. Most ice cream parlours will have lactose free ice cream etc, pizzerias with gluten free pizza etc. we find that we typically have more choice than in the UK.

Thanks, I may bake myself some blueberry muffins to bring with me since I won't be able to eat any of the deserts out there.

Thanks. I'm going to the south. Lactose isn't actually a problem for me. But lactose free whole milk has half the carbs as regular whole milk. I eat full fat regular dairy such as cheese, butter, cream etc, but cannot have things like ice cream because of the sugar in it or pasta / pizza etc as I don't eat flour or wheat products. Basically no sugar or carbs. But all meat, cheese & butter and green veg.

Companions of a general said natively constructed food was alright, so they could bring a sandwich, yet not packs of ham cheddar and so forth.
Unusual decisions not certain how to find a conclusive solution.
Additionally could you at any point bring back all the delectable Italian food.
Indeed clearly they have all lengthy life milk and cakes. Be that as it may, can anybody say whether they have lactose free milk promptly accessible in many general stores? Or on the other hand low carb sugar free cakes made with almond flour? I question that as they're not accessible here in many shops so I need to make my own. Furthermore, yes they'll have dull chocolate, and I'm certain 85% dim, yet when I can't peruse and comprehend Italian bundling bringing my own would save me a great deal of time and bother in the grocery store burning through my family's valuable occasion time.

So odd to bring food to Italy, food is so delicious, from the corner café to high end restaurants. I can understand allergies, otherwise it is absurd!

Have a look at the people OP, and you will see Italian women are gorgeous and slim and ... eat pasta every day, sometimes even twice a day.

There aren't many low carbs snacks, because Italians do not snack!

Ricciarelli is made with almond flour. So is pasta di mandorle. They do have sugar in though, they’re desserts.
I’m just trying to understand: are you on a diet?

Just be mindful of the fact that food is really really important in Italy and you can and will offend if you question. They’d only offer you the best.

I live in Italy. There is freely available lactose free milk, it’s called Accadì plus there is a lot of lactose free dairy such as mozzarella etc. most supermarket brands have lactose free ranges. Just look for senza lattosio.

Dark chocolate with high cocoa content is often clearly marked in big numbers on the front of the packet as it’s premium chocolate. Dark chocolate is called cioccolato fondente. You can get Lindt and a few other brands available in the U.K if you’re worried about unfamiliar brands.

there is gluten free stuff made with almond flour available in some supermarkets, no idea about carb content but can you not go without cakes for a few days? There are also delicious biscuits traditionally made with almond flour (ricciarelli and amaretti) but the sugar content is not low.

I really wouldn’t bother filling your suitcase with food from the U.K. Plenty of stuff here and much of it better quality than food available in the average U.K. supermarket.

But to answer your question you can bring dry food in, it’s just cheese, meats, fruit and veg and I the fresh stuff that is a no no. Guests often bring me shortbread or other biscuits and that’s not a problem. Not so sure about home made but I would guess no one will look at it.

Are you driving or flying? We rode (motorcycle) and nobody questioned what we were carrying, didn't even have to take off my helmet for French passport control . I was carrying foodstuffs

It's clearer on this link:
europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/travel/carry/meat-dairy-animal/index_en.htm

The important thing for the OP to note is:

Powdered infant milk, infant food and special foods required for medical reasons
No more than 2 kg

• do not require refrigeration before opening
• are packaged proprietary brand products for direct sale to the final consumer
• that the packaging is unbroken unless in current use