Can I bring a homemade Italian tomato sauce through the US customs?

Can I bring a homemade Italian tomato sauce through the US customs? - Appetizing pizza with shrimps and champignon on wooden table

I have a homemade tomato sauce, 100% made in Italy, that I would like to bring to a friend in the US. I've read all the US customs documentation: it is written that I have to declare it, but not if it would pass or get seized.

Considering I'm shipping this, if it gets seized that would cost me a substancial amount of money I can't afford to loose (overseas shipping is expensive).

The sauce is made 100% in a single country and contains absolutely no meat or products derived from meat. The sauce would travel in a vacuum jar, with no label on it (it is not a commercial product): would that be accepted?



Best Answer

Not very likely.

The main concern - and your success - would be to convince the Customs that the jar contains what you say it does, and that it is prepared properly (i.e. there are no disease cultures left). Note that they have no means to verify that it indeed contains no meat products (such as bullion), eggs or other prohibited products, and you're unlikely to have a certificate of origin. Here is a list of food products allowed and prohibited from bringing into the USA. As you can see, the list of prohibited products lists much more than just meat products (for example, some sorts of cheese from some countries are not permitted). While canned food are generally allowed, it is unlikely your jar would be considered "canned".

However you can bring any kind of food into the US, and as long as you declare it to Customs, there is no penalty. Then the Customs decide whether it could be passed or not - and if not, they simply confiscate it. Thus if you already made the sauce, or it is not huge investment, you're not risking much.




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Can you bring food from Italy to us?

You may be able to bring in food such as fruits, meats or other agricultural products depending on the region or country from which you are traveling. You must declare all food products. Failure to declare food products can result in up to $10,000 in fines and penalties.



How Tomato Sauce Is Made In Italy | Regional Eats




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