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Bringing food through security

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  • 11-06-2013 3:39pm
    #1
    Grace16
    Registered Users Posts: 118 ✭✭


    So myself and 2 friends are heading off to Orlando on Monday and we're gonna bring some food with us to have on the plane as the food served can be pretty hit and miss! One of the girls wants to bring some pick and mix on and I was wondering if we would be let through security with this as it isn't in a sealed packet like a normal bag of sweets. Are there any foods which won't be allowed on the plane? I know that once we land in Orlando we can't take the food off the plane but that won't be a problem :P thanks so much!


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    #2
    Ponster
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 10,912 Mod ✭✭✭✭Ponster


    I don't think that there are any restrictions as to foods that you can take onto a plane, only liquids and foods that are liquid in nature (jam for example).

    I don't see why you couldn't take the same food through security at Orlando though ?


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    #3
    Darren1o1
    Registered Users Posts: 744 ✭✭✭Darren1o1


    Grace16 wrote: »
    So myself and 2 friends are heading off to Orlando on Monday and we're gonna bring some food with us to have on the plane as the food served can be pretty hit and miss! One of the girls wants to bring some pick and mix on and I was wondering if we would be let through security with this as it isn't in a sealed packet like a normal bag of sweets. Are there any foods which won't be allowed on the plane? I know that once we land in Orlando we can't take the food off the plane but that won't be a problem :P thanks so much!

    Any dairy, veg or meat products will be a no no unless canned. Sweets, crisps etc are good. Dried good eg instant coffee, tea and custard are good. Canned stuff suchs as beans are good


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    #4
    Darren1o1
    Registered Users Posts: 744 ✭✭✭Darren1o1


    Ponster wrote: »
    I don't think that there are any restrictions as to foods that you can take onto a plane, only liquids and foods that are liquid in nature (jam for example).

    I don't see why you couldn't take the same food through security at Orlando though ?

    EU is within a common border, Flying from Ireland to the US, you are not flying within a border but across one. They do not allow certain products (Meats, Dairy, Veg etc)


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    #5
    coylemj
    Registered Users Posts: 25,445 ✭✭✭✭coylemj


    You won't have a problem with airport security, aside from the liquids issue that has been pointed out above. Where you may encounter difficulties is with the folk at US Immigration. They screen passengers on behalf of the US Dept. of Agriculture and will ask you if you are carrying any food. They may ask you to deposit certain meats, fruits and/or vegetables in a 'special bin', this happened an aunt of mine about a year ago, she had an orange which they wouldn't allow her to take on the flight.

    Bear in mind that the US agriculture industry is huge and a very important part of the economy so pest and disease control is taken seriously. There are certain state lines within the 48 states where there are checkpoints whose purpose is to enforce regulations forbidding the transport of certain foodstuffs into the state. Some states even control the movement of bees.

    In Dublin airport there's no point in promising to consume the goods onboard. As far as the US agents are concerned you have entered the USA when you pass their desk so it's not an option, either you can bring it all the way into the US or you must surrender it there and then.

    Travelers bringing food into the U.S. for personal use


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    #6
    Ponster
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 10,912 Mod ✭✭✭✭Ponster


    Darren1o1 wrote: »
    Any dairy, veg or meat products will be a no no unless canned. Sweets, crisps etc are good. Dried good eg instant coffee, tea and custard are good. Canned stuff suchs as beans are good
    Darren1o1 wrote: »
    EU is within a common border, Flying from Ireland to the US, you are not flying within a border but across one. They do not allow certain products (Meats, Dairy, Veg etc)

    The OP is referring to taking food onto the place to eat and not taking food into the US, ex-pat style.

    A sandwich with meat in it isn't going to be stopped at security and is unlikely to even show up in the scan (unless the sandwich is wrapped in foil as the sensors detect when organic and non-organic materials are in contact.


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    #7
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    Ponster wrote: »
    The OP is referring to taking food onto the place to eat and not taking food into the US, ex-pat style.

    A sandwich with meat in it isn't going to be stopped at security and is unlikely to even show up in the scan (unless the sandwich is wrapped in foil as the sensors detect when organic and non-organic materials are in contact.


    You could wave an irish sandwich in front of an americans face and they wouldnt be able to see it, its so small compared to theirs.


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    #8
    coylemj
    Registered Users Posts: 25,445 ✭✭✭✭coylemj


    Ponster wrote: »
    The OP is referring to taking food onto the place to eat and not taking food into the US, ex-pat style.

    My aunt assured the US agent in Dublin that she intended to eat the orange on the plane but she wasn't allowed to take it onboard so they don't make the distinction.
    Ponster wrote: »
    A sandwich with meat in it isn't going to be stopped at security and is unlikely to even show up in the scan (unless the sandwich is wrapped in foil as the sensors detect when organic and non-organic materials are in contact.

    As I stated above, the issue is not with DAA security, it's compliance with US DoA regulations that you need to take into account.

    If the OP is not doing immigration until he/she gets to Orlando then there's no issue, otherwise they will have to either tell lies to the US agents in Dublin or hand over any forbidden food.


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    #9
    Darren1o1
    Registered Users Posts: 744 ✭✭✭Darren1o1


    Ponster wrote: »
    The OP is referring to taking food onto the place to eat and not taking food into the US, ex-pat style.
    They are both treated the same.
    Ponster wrote: »
    A sandwich with meat in it isn't going to be stopped at security and is unlikely to even show up in the scan (unless the sandwich is wrapped in foil as the sensors detect when organic and non-organic materials are in contact.

    But it still would be illegal and run the risk of being caught and prosecuted.


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    #10
    Ponster
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 10,912 Mod ✭✭✭✭Ponster


    coylemj wrote: »
    If the OP is not doing immigration until he/she gets to Orlando then there's no issue, otherwise they will have to either tell lies to the US agents in Dublin or hand over any forbidden food.

    I understand all that but the OP is asking about a bag of sweets and never mentioned going through Dublin airport which would of course change things a little :)


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    #11
    Grace16
    Registered Users Posts: 118 ✭✭Grace16


    Thanks so much for all of your help! Somebody mentioned that we would probably go through immigration before getting to Orlando so I'll take a chance with the sweets but I won't bring any dairy/meat/fruit products with us and hope that they won't mind our need for sugar on the flight :P Thanks again!


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    #12
    coylemj
    Registered Users Posts: 25,445 ✭✭✭✭coylemj


    Ponster wrote: »
    I understand all that but the OP is asking about a bag of sweets and never mentioned going through Dublin airport which would of course change things a little :)

    Her user profile says that she's located in Dublin. I know she said she was going to bring sweets but she also asked the general question..
    Grace16 wrote: »
    Are there any foods which won't be allowed on the plane?

    So I think it was reasonable to give her the full picture.


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