Taking food abroad for fussy eating children!

[Shinyandnew1]

Am I right in thinking that now we’ve left the EU, we can’t take animal/dairy products into EU countries?

Am I still ok with things like Marmite (vegetarian)? Biscuits (bourbons?!), microwave rice?!

It’s not a question of import duty, it’s the equivalent of DEFRA preventing disease in the food supply chain now that our produce is not covered by the same legislation.

You can pay to have it inspected but I dread to think what bureaucracy, delay and expense would be involved in getting your packet of wafer thin ham inspected and certified at Calais.

It’s typically fresh or refrigerated things that would be hard to transport anyway.

Though if you are dealing with super-tasters like me and they can tell if you bought the same brand of milk from the wrong shop (this is my DH btw, not my ASD child who also is a super-taster but not not as extreme) or baked something with a different brand of white flour because there are supply chain problems (that would be both of them) then you are screwed no matter what.

They won't check so don't worry about it. If it's in your checked in luggage or bought after passing security it will be fine. They have basically the same products here anyway. We drove over with loads of fresh stuff left over from our UK trip, sausage rolls, bacon, scotch eggs. Nobody noticed. (I know driving is not quite the same as flying, but nobody is inspecting hold luggage for tins of baked beans.)

We went on eurotunnel last week and left chocolate, sandwiches we'd usually take on the journey, uht milk etc at home because of this, only to see everyone opening their cool bags and having their lunch after we'd been through French customs

I also think it's more to do with business importing than somebody eating a sandwich.

I think it'll depend on the country and the products. Lots of UK items are available in EU countries, although not all. For example, my supermarket in the arse end of Sweden sells Vimto.

Ah ! so that explains the holes in the caravan awning and teeth marks on the plastic chairs. Although I have to say that the grass on our pitch was the most manicured on the site. 👍

You can take anything containing meat or dairy on the plane. I don't think anyone cares about biscuits and cereal in your checked luggage either

Why is bovril not OK?
Pre packaged long life foods should be fine - just avoid actual meat, cheese, etc.
We took granola, different seasonings and tea bags to lanzarote.
Pack it in your suitcase; they aren't going to check.

OK I literally just googled it and this was the first result:

If you are travelling in the EU you can carry meat or dairy products with you as long as they are for your own personal consumption.

europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/travel/carry/meat-dairy-animal/index_en.htm

So, yes, it's for businesses selling products. People travelling on holiday can take whatever you could take before.

Oh FFS sorry I've read the rules for travelling within the EU

Yes, but we aren’t travelling within the EU.

Scroll down further for the rules for travelling from a non-EU country into an EU one.

We aren't in the EU so you are reading the wrong part.

Reformatted but from:

www.douane.gouv.fr/sites/default/files/2021-03/10/travellers-what-kinds-of-food-and-plants-can-you-bring-with-you.pdf

"What animal products can and cannot be brought into the EU?

Meat products e.g. foie gras, pâté, cured sausage
Milk, Milk products e.g. yogurt, cheese, butter

All the above not permitted from UK.

"Baby formula, baby food and foods for special medical purposes

Are permitted, up to 2 kg

Also reflected in the Europa site general info here:

europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/travel/carry/meat-dairy-animal/index_en.htm#shortcut-2

I have an ultra fussy kid. I find filling him up at breakfast is the best way to go. I'm sure you can pack breakfast cereal.

Also - almost everywhere will do a bowl of pasta with tomato or cheese sauce. Or scramble egg. We've had entire holidays built around the availability of pasta.

Good luck OP - it can be excruciating.

What sort of things would you want to take with you?

Specific biscuits (containing chocolate) and breakfast cereal (containing nuts/milk/honey) are the things that would be the most useful to bring with us.

I'd put them in your case and not worry about it. Where in particular are you going to?

I take packaged goods in hand language quite frequently and no one bat's an eye ( often travel on a Sunday and local shops often close on a Sunday), last did this a couple of weeks back

I wouldn’t worry about cereal and the like if it’s not a huge case full

we flew from eu to uk and back recently. And toddler Ds definitely sat munching cold sausages and then cream cheese sandwiches on the plane. Didn’t really occur to me not to. And we bought back bucket loads of shortbread

Apologies to @Shinyandnew1 my post was replying to @Bobbins36

Unfortunately I have big fat fingers and am using a prototype GPO Type 75 phone (with an alphabetic dial) to construct my posts.

I had food in my bag, nobody questioned it (crackers, cereal bars plus decaffeinated tea) There is milk in them (not the tea bags). Plenty of people took ketchup based on the tables at the resort. Personally I would suggest looking at the online supermarket listings for ones near where you are staying and see if there's appropriate substitutes. I have a very fussy dd with asd, I do get it but it's amazing how flexible they can be on holiday when allowed to choose foods themselves... the breakfast buffet was always a hit especially if they had fruit loops (we lived in the USA then)

I'd get slated if I told you what we've taken abroad, before and after Brexit.

We went to Spain in February and took cereal/jam sachets/noodles/biscuits/tea/coffee/sugar etc. We've always been fine and would've played dumb if anyone asked. I'd do it again

We went to Malta in April, took teabags, spreads, cereal in suitcase.
Made sandwiches to eat on plane as airplane food is always vile.
Went to Corfu in June did the same - I even packed some Smirnoff vodka in suitcase as it's the only brand I like😂
You will be fine x

Where are you travelling to ? Are you self catering ?