CUSTOMS question - for everyone who has travelled to Canada from UK

[M.mirza]

Hi all,

I will be travelling from Gatwick to Toronto through AirTransat (already got my visa and tickets)

I wanted to take home-made chocolate brownies for my cousins in Canada in a small plastic box. Ingredients will include flour, chocolate, shop bought peanut butter, butter, sugar, eggs and baking powder. They will not contain any nuts or milk.

How possible do you think this is?

 

[scylla]

It would be fine if the brownies were store-purchased / commercially packaged. CBSA tends to frown on items that aren't commercially packaged. You can certainly take the brownies as long as you are OK with the possibility of them being confiscated. They might let them in or they might not. Make sure you declare that you have food on your customs form.

 

[M.mirza]

Yes I do intend to declare them. My husband will be making them as he's not travelling with me, so sending it for my younger cousins.

I have read commercially packaged bakery items are usually ok but wanted to confirm about homemade baked goods.

 

[zardoz]

Hi all,

I will be travelling from Gatwick to Toronto through AirTransat (already got my visa and tickets)

I wanted to take home-made chocolate brownies for my cousins in Canada in a small plastic box. Ingredients will include flour, chocolate, shop bought peanut butter, butter, sugar, eggs and baking powder. They will not contain any nuts or milk.

How possible do you think this is?

As Customs can't confirm the ingredients list, there's no real benefit in listing them. However, as long as you declare that you are carrying food; even if prohibited, you will face no penalty.

 

[M.mirza]

I have witnessed customs carrying out a swab drug test on baggage. Could they easily do that with food items to confirm its drug free?

Milk and eggs as longs as they are not in their raw form are usually allowed from what I have read.

 

[scylla]

I have witnessed customs carrying out a swab drug test on baggage. Could they easily do that with food items to confirm its drug free?

Milk and eggs as longs as they are not in their raw form are usually allowed from what I have read.

It's not about whether the item is drug free - it's about not being able to confirm the ingredients. Prohibited food items aren't limited to drugs.

Again, since it's not commercially packaged, you should be prepared for the possibility the food may be confiscated and thrown away. There's nothing you can do to guarantee you'll be able to bring the brownies into Canada. (And yes - I've personally witnessed CBSA confiscating non-commercially packaged food items a couple of times.) If you don't want to face this, then make the brownies for your cousins once you are in Canada and forget about bringing them on the plane.

 

[M.mirza]

Thanks Scylla. I suppose its best to be careful than sorry.

 

[steaky]

It would be fine if the brownies were store-purchased / commercially packaged. CBSA tends to frown on items that aren't commercially packaged. You can certainly take the brownies as long as you are OK with the possibility of them being confiscated. They might let them in or they might not. Make sure you declare that you have food on your customs form.

Even if they are commercially packaged, CBSA will still open the package, take one piece and sniff it under their nose. If it smells good, they will let them in. Good idea you declare your food on your custom form. I witnessed CBSA confiscated commercial package goods in the past, though.

 

[M.mirza]

Haha in that case i'll make sure all my food items smell good ;D

 

[scylla]

Thanks Scylla. I suppose its best to be careful than sorry.

There's no harm in trying as long as: (1) you're prepared for the possibility they might be taken away; (2) you declare you have food on your customs form.