Talk me down, travelling to France

[Stressybetsy]

I'm driving to France soon for the first time. I have a lot of dietary requirements so have packed a lot of food. No fresh dairy/meat or anything (I assume things that contain dairy like chocolate are fine?)

However on the RAC website it mentions a few more things I haven't previously seen. We are taking packed lunch because it'll be near impossible to find something I can eat en route. This includes a little fruit salad and some cut up veggies. How likely is it customs search our lunch bag? Or unpack my (3!) crates of food. Everything packed (with the exception of some nuts & dried fruit which has been pre-portioned) is sealed/pre-preprepared. It's a nightmare travelling with restrictions, hence why we are driving!

Any talking me down would be much appreciated 🙈

Thank you!

Thank you!

I’ve never been searched at the port but officially you can’t take in meat or dairy but you can bring in fresh fruit for personal consumption if it’s grown in the EU. If you are taking in special foods for medical reasons you can get a waiver too eg infant formula. I’ve taken apples in for instance through the scanner at the airport and nothing said. Calais officials are more interested in illegal smuggling than your dairy milk chocolate though to be 100% safe by dairy free chocolate

We took the car ferry to France with friends last year. Their car was searched at Dover on the way back and ours was searched at Calais on the way back. I expect they were looking for more than the odd bit of fruit but if your car is full of food they could have a good poke around. My understanding is that eg dairy in packaged upf products will be ok but fresh cheese would not.

I’ve had car searched but they weren’t bothered about food more about drugs or immigrants I think.

Thanks both. Definitely going to try not to bring back any drugs or people!

This is a mean comment. Why should she have to miss out because she has allergies.

I hope you have a lovely time and that it isn't to stressful OP.

Thank you ❤️

Good morning everyone,

We are now in France. We were not searched and in fact no one even asked any questions. Straight in, straight out.

For those who chastised me, we stopped at two service stations on the way, neither of which had any suitable lunch food or any fruit at all (similar to the ones here where you'd usually get a little m&s food) so I'm pleased we didn't have to worry.

Have a wonderful weekend all!

To be fair most people said supermarkets stocked fresh fruit. Service stations in France aren't generally as well stocked as UK service stations (and most stopping points on motorway s have nothing at all).

OP, seriously French supermarket are a thousand times better than the ones we have in the UK.

More choice and better quality fruits and vegs.

You will be fine!

Please bear in mind when returning with food that the rules now restrict what you can bring back.

Have a good trip.

I’m suprised there were no pots of fresh fruit at the service stations with restaurants attached like L’Arche. They usually have decent lunch options in their restaurants and I’ve had fresh fruit before many times (food not as good as the old days though). I agree the actual petrol station shop bit won’t have much that’s unprocessed though.

We stopped at two different ones which had restaurants attached and there was nothing. One had salads but all had croutons mixed in. I couldn't even find yoghurt or a banana. Maybe we just got unlucky. Anyway, it didn't matter because I had my stuff but it would have been a difficult trip otherwise.

Thank you ☺️ don't plan on bringing anything fresh back in but will double check!

Let us know when you get to your first Hypermarche!!

Have driven to France many times. Customs are more concerned with people smuggling than searching for sandwiches. They normally ask you to open the boot of the car but I have never known them do any more than that.

In my experience as a coeliac, finding stuff to eat whilst travelling (as opposed to ingredients for preparing meals) is difficult whether you're stopping at service stations or hypermarkets.

I’ve holidayed in France several times with a friend who is a vegan celiac. It’s quite challenging! But GF (“sans gluten”) is increasingly common and the supermarkets are well stocked. Have a lovely holiday.

This app works in France. You scan the food and it tells you in English everything you’d want to know.
https://yuka.io/en/

Thank you! We have been using Google lens, will give this a go.

Thank you very much! Have been ok now we are are able to go to actual supermarkets but glad we brought some meal kit type thing as there's may contain warnings on so many things - olives today! Not seem that one before. Have a good week!

Absolutely! We did stop at a hypermarket yesterday on a different leg of the trip and there was nothing 'on the go'. I don't think people realise how challenging it can be. It would be amazing to just pull over and grab something 😳

OP, I get the need to take a lot of food with you, you’re on holiday and while hyper markets have lots of choice this can sometimes be a bit overwhelming and unnecessarily stressful and time wasting if you need to check everything for your allergies. I’d just want to stick to what I know and avoid the risk of eating something you’re allergic too!

Hope you have a fantastic holiday!

Thank you!!

Just got home and had a fantastic holiday. I'm so pleased I did take bits as it made life so much easier, I could then just buy fresh fruit, veg, meat etc. without worrying. I did still need to read labels but for fewer items. A lot of the things I'd usually buy on holiday here did contain gluten, it would have been hard work if I hadn't brought seasonings/marinades etc. No one was concerned either way at customs, it was all very easy.