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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to take banned food into EU?

216 replies

Hatehairdressers · 03/04/2023 18:17

We’re flying into Europe on Thursday staying in an AirBnB in an area where shops are going to be very shut for Easter (at least until Saturday).

My plan was to pack a bit of food to see us through a couple of meals - I’ve packed a picnic bag in our hold luggage full of long life stuff like pasta, tuna, and sweetcorn; brioche rolls and hot dogs. Chocolate bars, tea bags and some UHT milk. Applauded myself on my forward planning.

Then I realised we’re not in the EU any more and half this stuff is banned.

AIBU to take it anyway?

OP posts:
coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 03/04/2023 18:53

Hatehairdressers · 03/04/2023 18:47

I can’t figure out if chocolate is ok or not - is it a classified as a milk product?

Aren’t fruit and veg banned?

Yes, chocolate is dairy. So is the brioche.

You can bring in limited amounts of fruit and veg.

Original poster
Hatehairdressers · 03/04/2023 18:56

Fuck it, I was going to bring the DC’s Easter eggs with us too. Fucking Brexit.

OP posts:
ReadersD1gest · 03/04/2023 18:57

Hatehairdressers · 03/04/2023 18:27

Is it going to be confiscated though? Does anyone actually care about a tin of hotdogs (that are a product of the EU anyway)?

We drove into France last year, oblivious to this, and goodness know what we had in the car with us. No one checked. But flying seems a bit more risky, certainly.

Why are the hot dogs so important to you that you'd bring them though customs as contraband, is the real question...
Don't they sell food where you're going? Confused

So1invictus · 03/04/2023 18:58

Where on earth are you going that the food shops are going to be closed for days?

barms90 · 03/04/2023 18:58

I live in eu and fly back to UK a lot. Chocolate is fine....fruit and vegetables no. Meat no and cheese no. I have been stopped a few times after returning to the eu and taken to a little room in the airport, bags scanned and asked do I have any meat or cheese....I always reply no just chocolate and percy pigs :)

OMGitsnotgood · 03/04/2023 19:00

I used to panic about self catering Easter holidays for exactly the same reason but have never been anywhere with nothing at all open (usually Spain, Portugal, the Canaries). Big chains - very likely will close; smaller independents less likely. I'd post a question on the trip advisor forum for wherever you're going to ask if there will be little stores open to tide you over.

Dacadactyl · 03/04/2023 19:00

Hatehairdressers · 03/04/2023 18:27

Is it going to be confiscated though? Does anyone actually care about a tin of hotdogs (that are a product of the EU anyway)?

We drove into France last year, oblivious to this, and goodness know what we had in the car with us. No one checked. But flying seems a bit more risky, certainly.

I genuinely forgot I had a solitary banana when I was entering a country and they confiscated it.

puttingontheritz · 03/04/2023 19:00

thegrain · 03/04/2023 18:50

You'd be breaking the law to take it. Why bother. Just buy French food it's very nice.

Show quote history

It won't be France, it can't be, the only time supermarkets all close for a bank holiday is 1st May.

WonderingWanda · 03/04/2023 19:00

Surely you can buy chocolate, crisps and wine at the airport and take that with you? What more could you want to eat on holiday?

We accidentally took packed lunch through customs in Mexico, they checked my bag but not dc's who hadn't eaten theirs.

Shutte · 03/04/2023 19:01

Would be interested to know where you’re going! Having lived in a few EU countries that go big at Easter - you can always get milk and food!

Scot75 · 03/04/2023 19:01

Hatehairdressers · 03/04/2023 18:56

Fuck it, I was going to bring the DC’s Easter eggs with us too. Fucking Brexit.

Chocolate is allowed.

schnubbins · 03/04/2023 19:01

So1invictus · 03/04/2023 18:58

Where on earth are you going that the food shops are going to be closed for days?

In Germany (Bavaria )the supermarkets will be shut on Friday , Sunday and Monday.The only shops allowed to open are those at the main train stations and Tankstellen or Filling Stations.

Deliaskis · 03/04/2023 19:01

What's the airport like where you are going? Many now have a little convenience store in arrivals, in some cases it's a massive full supermarket and will be open over bank holidays, as will some kind of shop at a train station. It's highly likely that you will be able to get food to tide you over until the rest of the shops open.

Deliaskis · 03/04/2023 19:02

Ah yes, also petrol stations!

Nimbostratus100 · 03/04/2023 19:04

go ahead, do it, pay the fine, get hauled into the interrogations room for hours, I am sure it will be worth it

why are you even asking?

AxolotlOnions · 03/04/2023 19:10

Tinned stuff is all fine, it's fresh fruit, veg, meat and dairy that is banned.

IAmInMeHoop · 03/04/2023 19:10

Hatehairdressers · 03/04/2023 18:27

Is it going to be confiscated though? Does anyone actually care about a tin of hotdogs (that are a product of the EU anyway)?

We drove into France last year, oblivious to this, and goodness know what we had in the car with us. No one checked. But flying seems a bit more risky, certainly.

The problem is you have no idea whether you will be stopped or not. You could easily sail right through with it....or not. You could get stopped by someone very unbothered who will just bin it and wave you through, or by someone who hates their job, or Brits, or is having a bad day, and who wants to throw the book at you.

Question is, is it worth the risk?

amylou8 · 03/04/2023 19:13

I always take butter in my suitcase (can't stand the non salted stuff) and bananas (don't ask), and so far no issues. Maybe a whole holdall of food might draw attention though. Could you spread it out between cases make it less obvious?

LegendOfZeldaFitzgerald · 03/04/2023 19:13

Tell us what the airport is and we will find you somewhere suitable to shop

baffledcoconut · 03/04/2023 19:13

Tinned stuff is fine. Chocolate, baked goods etc is fine. It’s literally uncooked meat/dairy/fruit and veg except bananas. Bananas are ok.

Original poster
Hatehairdressers · 03/04/2023 19:14

Ok I’ve ditched the hot dogs, that seems to be asking for trouble.

Might be able to get some oat milk in place of the uht milk.

Was going to bring babybel for DC to eat as snacks but guess that’s off the table too. How frustrating.

OP posts:
Original poster
Hatehairdressers · 03/04/2023 19:21

Mini cheddars aren’t going to count as cheese are they? This feels ridiculous!

OP posts:
baffledcoconut · 03/04/2023 19:22

No they aren’t. Read above. Check the gov website too.

twoandcooplease · 03/04/2023 19:29

I'd still take the chocolate!!

RosesInWater · 03/04/2023 19:31

OP, take the hint - quick, many of us are dying to know (roughly) where you are going that is such a food desert!

Indeed some posters have said they will help you find somewhere open if they are in or near the area. But they need to know where it is!

Come on, we are waiting.......

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