Transporting meat from the UK to the US
So I'm in the UK right now and will be returning to the US in a few days and would like to bring back a particular foodstuff with me (sausage) to share with someone. Is this possible and if so, how? I figure keeping it refrigerated isn't a huge issue - just buy some thermal bags and a bunch of ice blocks or dry ice or some such and pack it really well. What's less clear to me is transporting it.
Bringing it on board the plane as a carry-on would likely not work. Maybe it would if I put it in checked luggage? Or would it be better if I shipped it via Royal Mail or something?
Best Answer
British Columbians are known to fly whole fresh salmon to Alberta and Ontario. The process is ad hoc and quintessentially Canadian as follows:
- catch a beaut in the morning (or get a fresh one from a buddy who's out in the chuck that morning)
- put the fish on ice as soon as it's caught
- gut the fish
- wrap the fish in a plastic bag, seal with duct tape
- wrap that in an old plaid jacket
- wrap that in another plastic bag, seal with duct tape
- put that in your checked baggage
- drive to the big smoke
- get on a plane
- barbeque the fish for dinner
The key here is to get and keep the fish good and cold prior to insulating it with your plaid jacket. Once it's inside your suitcase it'll be pretty well insulated from warming up. I figure you've got about 10 hours of transport time before it's warmed up so much you need to cook it. Flight time does not count toward that 10 hours -- the luggage compartment is pretty cold.
There's no border between BC and Ontario so, in this case, there's nothing to declare. However, I'm fairly certain that there are restrictions against bringing fresh food into the USA. You should probably figure out whether you're allowed to bring your sausages across the USA border.
Pictures about "Transporting meat from the UK to the US"
Can you bring meat from UK 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.Can I ship meat to the US?
USPS Allows You to Ship Meat, But Only Domestically All you have to do is make sure the meat conforms to regulations set by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). USPS also don't restrict you to any specific type of service for shipping meat, as is the case when shipping hazardous materials.Why can you not bring meat into the US?
The United States restricts or prohibits the entry of many agricultural products, which can carry foreign pests and diseases that harm American agriculture and our environment.Can I bring food from England to USA?
Many prepared foods that are unopened and commercially labeled are admissible (excluding meats and meat products). You may bring bakery items and most cheeses into the United States. As a general rule, condiments, vinegars, oils, packaged spices, honey, coffee, fish, tea, and baby formula are admissible.Shipping \u0026 transporting your dog from the USA to the UK
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Pixabay, Chris Schippers, William Fortunato, Pixabay