Page 8 | AIBU to take banned food into EU?

Hatehairdressers · 2023-04-03T17:17:38+00:00

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?

notimagain · 04/04/2023 16:20

AspiringMermaid · 04/04/2023 15:44

Well this is all news to me 😅done 6 trips to EU last year and so far this year, always take snacks with me for plane journeys in my hand luggage, chocolate, muffins, cookies

Taking food onto the aircraft to eat on board is fine, the (possible) problem is still having stuff on you on disembarkation into the EU.

OMGitsnotgood · 04/04/2023 16:28

Hobert · 04/04/2023 14:42

Sorry to jump on the thread! I am going to Portugal on Thursday - anyone know if shops and restaurants are likely to be open on the Friday? I have googled some specific shops in the area but they just list their standard hours as far as I can see.

We've always found some small shops open but can't guarantee that'll be the case for you as it will vary and not been over Easter for a few years. Try asking the question on TripAdvisor forum for the specific place you are going to and hopefully someone with local knowledge will respond

TreesandFish · 04/04/2023 16:40

I flew into Denmark a few days ago and I had oatcakes, chocolate and an apple in my bag. Nobody asked me what I was carrying. If I were you, I would just put into your suitcase whatever you need for your first day in the country. It would be different if you were exporting 10 legs off lamb and a tone of milk

jannier · 04/04/2023 16:42

GoodChat · 04/04/2023 14:09

I suggested this too but apparently we're ignoring anything sensible and arguing about nonsense

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She just wants to be on the customs stop list then.

2bazookas · 04/04/2023 16:46

Milk is a liquid; you'd have to lie when asked have you any liquids. Then they'll find it when they scan your bag. Then they'll find everything else.

TreesandFish · 04/04/2023 16:57

2bazookas · 04/04/2023 16:46

Milk is a liquid; you'd have to lie when asked have you any liquids. Then they'll find it when they scan your bag. Then they'll find everything else.

Only if she takes it in hand luggage. Perfectly possible to take a pint of frozen fresh milk in your checked luggage

IamKlaus · 04/04/2023 16:58

TreesandFish · 04/04/2023 16:57

Only if she takes it in hand luggage. Perfectly possible to take a pint of frozen fresh milk in your checked luggage

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Possible, but illegal

IamKlaus · 04/04/2023 16:59

TreesandFish · 04/04/2023 16:40

I flew into Denmark a few days ago and I had oatcakes, chocolate and an apple in my bag. Nobody asked me what I was carrying. If I were you, I would just put into your suitcase whatever you need for your first day in the country. It would be different if you were exporting 10 legs off lamb and a tone of milk

Illegal is illegal, whether its a little or a lot. You probably won't get caught, but you might.

moomoomoo27 · 04/04/2023 17:01

I've done it loads of times for a bunch of different countries (and even did it before we left the EU but the other way round, bringing reindeer meat snacks from Norway into the UK).

No one checks. No one cares. Even in hand luggage (although obviously there's the liquid rule, which mostly they've pulled us up on and sometimes not, but that will likely depend on the country - Germany is very strict for example).

And for Eurostar or driving they're even more lax.

TreesandFish · 04/04/2023 17:13

In any case, if you want to stay completely on the legal side, you can still bring a packet of pasta and a jar of vegan pesto in your suitcase. The only restrictions are on meat and dairy

IamKlaus · 04/04/2023 17:15

moomoomoo27 · 04/04/2023 17:01

I've done it loads of times for a bunch of different countries (and even did it before we left the EU but the other way round, bringing reindeer meat snacks from Norway into the UK).

No one checks. No one cares. Even in hand luggage (although obviously there's the liquid rule, which mostly they've pulled us up on and sometimes not, but that will likely depend on the country - Germany is very strict for example).

And for Eurostar or driving they're even more lax.

They do check and they do care. It's pretty easy to get away with as the checks are sporadic at best, but it is illegal and you can and will get items confiscated and can be fined.

Original poster

Hatehairdressers · 04/04/2023 17:17

Impressive location sleuthing going on!

I’ve taken contraband produce out of the luggage to be on the safe side, but still have enough to tide us over if there are no handy open stores.

Honestly I don’t want or need help with finding a 7-11 where we are staying.

OP posts:

moomoomoo27 · 04/04/2023 17:19

IamKlaus · 04/04/2023 17:15

They do check and they do care. It's pretty easy to get away with as the checks are sporadic at best, but it is illegal and you can and will get items confiscated and can be fined.

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I've never seen or heard it, and it's even less likely to happen now with so many delays and short staffing now. It's a security risk for other things though I agree, it's an accident waiting to happen.

I don't care about fines/confiscation, but I highly doubt they would take it as far as fines, more likely just make you throw it away.

IAmInMeHoop · 04/04/2023 17:25

moomoomoo27 · 04/04/2023 17:19

I've never seen or heard it, and it's even less likely to happen now with so many delays and short staffing now. It's a security risk for other things though I agree, it's an accident waiting to happen.

I don't care about fines/confiscation, but I highly doubt they would take it as far as fines, more likely just make you throw it away.

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Not sure if you are aware, but things you haven't personally seen happen do happen. Like people having banned food confiscated, and getting fined for it.
Happens all the time.

SpareHeirOverThere · 04/04/2023 17:26

TLDR but OP if you have liquids keep in mind size restrictions for cabin bags. Put larger containers of liquid in hold luggage.

Callixte · 04/04/2023 17:28

I’ve had similar to what the OP describes with the Maundy Thursday (Holy Thursday) public holiday in Norway (not EU, I know): almost everything will be closed from late afternoon/early evening on Wednesday until Saturday morning, and again from Saturday afternoon/evening to Tuesday. You can find a smattering of (overpriced) convenience stores and souvenir shops and maybe an Asian supermarket open in the larger cities and tourist areas, but it can be very slim pickings at the petrol station everywhere else. (Not ideal on a budget with picky toddlers!) And some of the regional airports like Arla only have one cafe/shop and it’ll close by 6PM even if it’s not a holiday.

Someone already mentioned Denmark, but parts of Spain also have this holiday sequence (as well as Non-EU Iceland and Faroes). I don’t know first-hand if they’re as shut down as Norway can be.

ButterCrackers · 04/04/2023 17:29

Why not just buy some food when you arrive. Most airports/ stations/ferry have a shop. There’s always a petrol station with a shop and restaurants and cafes will be open.

glasshole · 04/04/2023 17:35

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?

You can buy food in the airport and take that with you. Expensive but they won't stop you at security for foods purchases in duty free.

MumOf2workOptions · 04/04/2023 17:42

ButterCrackers · 04/04/2023 17:29

Why not just buy some food when you arrive. Most airports/ stations/ferry have a shop. There’s always a petrol station with a shop and restaurants and cafes will be open.

Exactly
Or email the air b n b owner and ask if you can do a hone delivery to the place or something
I wouldn't take food in for the sake of a fine or it being taken off you, what a total waste of time and money

notimagain · 04/04/2023 17:49

glasshole · 04/04/2023 17:35

You can buy food in the airport and take that with you. Expensive but they won't stop you at security for foods purchases in duty free.

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Looks like from several posts that there's some confusion creeping in between security and customs.

Security don't give care about whether food and drink is compliant with customs regs at your destination.

Their job (amongst other things) is to scan bags, but they are looking for potential weapons etc. Yes they sometimes will throw away liquids, gels, pastes etc bu that's because they are for some reason not compliant with security rules.

Customs is (usually) at the far end of the journey and it's that lot that police the food regs..

So yes, you can load up in the airport with all sorts of shopping post security but that doesn't mean you are compliant with customs at destination (e.g as an extreme case you could buy a bottle of booze in an airport post security and then fly to Saudi but you won't get it past Saudi customs).

maddy68 · 04/04/2023 18:21

There are always convenience stores open (Corner shop type places (). All restaurants will be open. Just get a pizza delivered if you want to eat in

Brefugee · 04/04/2023 21:35

Plus I was imagining what I would put into my Carrefour or Edeka or REWE delivery basket…

no Edeka or RWE deliveries where i live. The best you can get is click & collect at the big REWE but it closes at 8pm. No corner shops (well, you can buy a half, or 1/4 bottle of brandy from a trinkhalle, and a packet of gummi bears)

BertieBotts · 04/04/2023 22:20

notimagain · 04/04/2023 13:17

@BertieBotts

But that is a safety issue and there is no safety issue with bringing shelf stable items and and out of the EU.

Maybe, maybe maybe not... regardless of what we think in the real world if you end up with a customs check you will be dealing with their rules...and that includes the restrictions of foodstuffs.

Standing in front of a customs officer and saying "Well I brought these in since I didn't see the point in that rule..." doesn't tend to get you very far.

The reality is the OP probably will be alright entering the EU but if by some small chance they get checked they have to accept they might well face sanctions...and then the responses to the AIBU that started the thread are a bit irrelevant.

If they do get sanctioned then I really hope they then don't pop up again with an AIBU of: "to think customs were being unreasonable in telling me off, fining me and removing my banned food"..

Well of course not, why would you argue with a customs officer? They aren't going to do anything, they will just throw it away, which is a bit disappointing but really no big deal. You say sorry, I didn't realise and move on. But nobody is checking for these things anyway, so it doesn't matter.

People are going on about it like OP wants to smuggle in hard drugs!

RosaBonheur · 05/04/2023 07:54

moomoomoo27 · 04/04/2023 17:01

I've done it loads of times for a bunch of different countries (and even did it before we left the EU but the other way round, bringing reindeer meat snacks from Norway into the UK).

No one checks. No one cares. Even in hand luggage (although obviously there's the liquid rule, which mostly they've pulled us up on and sometimes not, but that will likely depend on the country - Germany is very strict for example).

And for Eurostar or driving they're even more lax.

Before we left the EU it was completely legal, and it still is completely legal the other way round.

GMOOH2023 · 05/04/2023 09:32

maddy68 · 04/04/2023 18:21

There are always convenience stores open (Corner shop type places (). All restaurants will be open. Just get a pizza delivered if you want to eat in

Well I'm obviously not going to share my exact location, but I can assure you that there are no convenience stores anywhere near where I live - none - and nowhere that delivers pizza (or anything else for that matter).

There are also none in the 50 miles between here and the nearest large airport. At a pinch you could get a Starbucks sandwich at the airport, or a Mc Donald's on the way, but that isn't what OP is looking for.

How do you know where the OP is going?