Taking food to EU countries

[Ulezz]

dc is due to travel soon to an EU country from Uk via coach, it’ll be a long trip so planning on packing some food for the journey.
can anyone verify the travelling with food rules please, it says no meat or milk products - does that rule out chocolate or say a chicken sandwich?

He can eat them during travel but can't take them into the country. That's if they even check baggage of those travelling by coach.

Thank you, the biggest part of the journey will be through the EU, they’re driving to Austria, I’m sure they don’t check all coaches but don’t want to buy stuff that may get taken away.

The full rules can be found at:
europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/travel/carry/meat-dairy-animal/index_en.htm#shortcut-3

A chocolate bar would be ok, but the chicken sandwich would not be. The chances of being checked are very, very slim.

You could check with the trip organiser what the food and drink arrangements are for the journey.

You're not supposed to take any meat or dairy. I chanced it anyway and nobody checked.

22 years ago during the height of food & mouth we drove to Germany, taken a ferry to The Netherlands and they checked every single car. I saw them confiscating things like margerine called Utterly Butterly or cakes.

I think chocolates would be ok but I would stay away from chicken or ham sandwiches and yoghurt unless it's eaten before disbarking the ferry or during the tunnel. In my experience over the years it very much depends on the person checking what you have with you.

DD does a similar trip next year and I just will give her more pocket money to buy snacks when she is in France during her stay than her taking tons of things with her.

In reality he is very unlikely to be checked they will be waved on while still on the coach

They doi do random checks but he should be fine

Yes, they can and do sometimes do random checks, but in reality the chance of that happening are slim. Goods that are packaged, like chocolate or a yogurt-coated cereal bar, are fine AFAIK. Pasteurized cheese should also be okay, so does he like cheese? Eggs? Houmous? If you're worried and he's not a fussy eater I'd send things like that with crackers/bread sticks/carrots, etc as they should be fine.

I think I'd ask the school what they're planning to do about food en route. Will they stop at motorway services to allow the DC to food? My experience of helping on school trips is that it's amazing how many DC turn up without adequate food/drink for the day (and these aren't poor kids, so it's not a money issue); while others will eat everything they've been given to last them the whole day in the first hour and then say how hungry/thirsty they are!

No fresh veg, meat or dairy - even stuff in tins! No eggs. No butter. Chocolate and crisps are OK. I would contact school and ask how they plan to handle this. Saying that, I came through Eurotunnel on Wednesday with a chicken sandwich and a stash of pork pies. It's a total pain.