The United States Embassy in the Philippines reminded Filipino travelers not to bring into the US prohibited food because this comes with a hefthy $10,000-fine (roughly P430,000).
On its blog site, the embassy said, "If you are thinking of bringing food or food products with you to the United States as either presents or to help celebrate the holidays, you should first investigate what is acceptable to bring and what is prohibited."
"So think before you bring 'a taste of home' to your friends or relatives in the United States, and investigate if it is OK to do so. It may be easier just to bring the recipe and make it once you arrive," it suggested.
The embassy said "restrictions are placed on these products to protect community health, preserve the environment and prevent the introduction of devastating diseases to domestic plants and animals."
The US Customs and Border Protection said the following food are generally admissible:
- Condiments such as ketchup (catsup), mustard, mayonnaise and prepared sauces that do not contain meat products
- Olive oil and other vegetable oils
- Bread, cookies, crackers, cakes, granola bars, cereal and other baked and processed products
- Candy and chocolate
- Cheese- Solid cheese (hard or semi-soft, that does not contain meat), butter, butter oil, and cultured milk products such as yogurt and sour cream are not restricted.
- Canned goods and goods in vacuum packed jars (other than those containing meat or poultry products) for your personal use
- Fish- personal amounts of fish, shrimp, abalone and other seafood are allowed and can be fresh, frozen, dried, smoked, canned or cooked
- Powder drinks sealed in original containers with ingredients listed in English. However, admissibility is still under the discretion of the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Agricultural Specialist.
- Dried Fruit- things like apricots, barbery, currants, dates, figs, gooseberries, peaches, prunes, raisins, tomatillos, and zereshk
- Liquid milk and milk products intended for use by infants or very young children are admissible if in a reasonable amount or small quantity for several days' use
- Juices- commercially canned
- Tea- commercially packaged and ready to be boiled, steeped or microwaved in liquid.
- Coffee- roasted or unroasted if there is no pulp attached.
- Spices- most dried spices are allowed except for orange, lemon, lime and other citrus leaves and seeds, lemongrass, and many vegetable and fruit seeds
- Honey- comb honey, royal jelly, bee bread, or propolis if it is not intended to be fed to bees
- Noodles and ramen that do not have meat or eggs in the spice packets
- Rice- white rice, basmati rice, brown rice, husked rice, polished rice, rice flour and other products that do not have the hull attached
- Flour- wheat, rice, oat and cornmeal
- Mushrooms, fresh and dried- above ground parts that are clean and free of soil
- Nuts- All nuts are allowed if they have been boiled, cooked, ground, oven dried, pureed, roasted, or steamed. Other nuts may be allowed if they are free from their husks
- Bakery items, candy, chocolate, and dry mixes containing dairy and egg ingredients [such as baking mixes, cocoa mixes, drink mixes, instant cake mixes, instant pudding mixes, liquid drink mixes containing reconstituted dry milk or dry milk products (including those that contain sugar), potato flakes, and infant formula] commercially labeled and presented in final finished packaging are generally admissible.