Folkestone Channel Tunnel, travelling with Food to France

[Worriedgranmasmithy]

Has anyone been recently out to France travelling through Channel Tunnel.

I have an autoimmune disease where it’s very difficult for me to eat a whole lots of food everybody else doesn’t even think twice about.

I want to take probably about £50 of odds and ends that make my life easier and my mouth free or the most painful ulcers. Things like, bread, sausages my butcher make for me without sage, biscuits know I can eat, few and far between so I’d take four packets, also washing powder and odd things with like a substitute soy sauce. And the list goes on.

A friend thinks they are confiscating food on the French side and are building a place to stop and check travellers entering France.

Some family just say take it and lose it if get stopped and others are the Rules are The Rules.

I wouldn't take meat, but the dry goods I'd expect are ok.

There’s definitely a finite chance of being checked, and I agree with NotTheGrinchAgain - if searched you’ll lose the meat products, you may be OK with dried goods.

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

You can't take meat or dairy products into France any more. Dry goods should be fine. There's probably not a huge risk you will be stopped. I know plenty of people who have been smuggling pork pies and sausages over the border, but there is always the chance. Bloody Brexit.

All the checks are done at Folkstone though - normally once you drive off the Eurotunnel there's noone in France to stop you in my experience. I do remember years ago during the foot and mouth epidemic we had to throw all our sandwiches etc away on the ferry....

I wouldn't like to say categorically but I took washing tablets with me to France recently and brought back biscuits. They didn't search or even ask but that's not to say they don't search some vehicles.

Oh and you just drive off in Calais. I'm not sure there is any mechanism currently to stop you French side. The French border and checks are done in Folkestone.

(I took washing tablets because my child has allergies to most washing powder, so I feel your need to be sure you can eat etc)