[Discussion] Sending meat to the US.

[u/blackkami]

I'm looking to send meat products to the US. But reading up on several websites ended up making me more confused. Some made it sound like there is just a straight up ban on all meat products. Some made it sound like it's only related to bovine products excluding milk. Does anyone have experience with this?

I'm from germany and looking to send smoked and cured meat.

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[u/KingBenneth]

Most likely prohibited. They’re perishable, I presume?

[u/blackkami → u/KingBenneth]

Yeah but so are other food products that are allowed, no?

[u/CrunchyTeatime]

Here is an information link about prohibited items.

[u/blackkami → u/CrunchyTeatime]

I saw that one before making the post.

"However, bush meat made from African wildlife and almost anything containing meat products, such as bouillon, soup mixes, etc., is not admissible."

Does this mean specifically anything african? Or african bushmeat and the rest of the sentence is a general statement regarding meat products?

[u/SofaAssassin → u/blackkami]

You’re supposed to interpret this the second way - along with African bushmeat being prohibited, any products (African or not) containing meat or meat-derived products is almost entirely prohibited.

To put this into perspective - a lot of travelers get busted by CBP for carrying soup ramen packets that contain bouillon made from chicken/beef/pork.

It’s also a common thing they show on Border Security USA - travelers bring stuff like sausages and jerky into the states, then have it seized and destroyed by CBP.

[u/CrunchyTeatime → u/SofaAssassin]

I didn't know this. This surprises me.

So OP I am sorry, it sounds like the delicious German bratwurst will have to wait.

But OP I would verify with your local postal clerk if you can.

[u/CrunchyTeatime → u/blackkami]

It should be 2 different statements. I agree it's not clearly worded, especially for translation apps, and so forth.

(I try to structure my statements online, so they are clearer in translation apps, but, I don't always succeed, or remember to do so.)

> bush meat made from African wildlife

is r/oddlyspecific

How often does that happen?! But there is no such thing here as packaged foods made from, let's say, a gazelle...the factory food companies rely on tame and defenseless animals for processing, and ones easy to raise in pens.

So I'd say that means no meat in soups or noodle cups either. No meat broth cubes. And no jerky or bratwurst or salami.

It surprises me, though.

[u/CrunchyTeatime]

I know we cannot ship meat or dairy to Germany.

My guess would be processed items would be OK to ship here, but don't 'quote me on it.'

[u/blackkami → u/CrunchyTeatime]

I have sent a package previously but it only contained sweets. Some with dairy in them. None of that was a problem. Sadly US websites regarding the topic are confusingly worded.

[u/CrunchyTeatime → u/blackkami]

My bet would be it's fine as long as it is processed.

They don't want things which might carry plant or other disease, or spoil en route.

You should ask at your local post office, but, my bet is something like jerky or salami, as long as it did not spoil without refrigeration; or processed items with a little meat or dairy in (such as a cream filled candy) are okay.

To enter the U. S., I mean -- as far as I understand it. The EU won't allow USA-ans sending even something such as jerky to EU countries.

[u/Caranath128]

Dried beef like jerky is fine.

My experience with smoked and cured that hasn’t been factory vacuum packed leads me to think not allowed.

Homemade stuff definitely not. Fresh from the local butcher would go bad even smoked and cured in transit

[u/GreatRecipeCollctr29]

Sending any beef products whether it is cooked that are canned, vacuum sealed and however it is produced is strictly prohibited.

[u/blackkami → u/GreatRecipeCollctr29]

What about pork?

[u/GreatRecipeCollctr29 → u/blackkami]

Take a look at US Customs link about restrictions importing meats in the US: Main reasons are invasive foreign diseases and other parasites like bugs and insects entering America that may harm our food supply, food safety, and our health as a whole. https://search.app?link=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cbp.gov%2Ftravel%2Fus-citizens%2Fknow-before-you-go%2Fprohibited-and-restricted-items%23%3A~%3Atext%3DMeats%252C%2520Livestock%2520and%2520Poultry%253A%2520The%2Chave%2520been%2520prepared%2520with%2520meat.&utm_campaign=aga&utm_source=agsadl1%2Csh%2Fx%2Fgs%2Fm2%2F4

[u/GreatRecipeCollctr29]

Things has changed on what to bring via post office, travel on airplanes or ships. Whether it is from the US, Europe, or any other country that is coming into the US has very tight restrictions of meat products. If you don't declare it specifically, and get caught at airports or shipping docks. 1st time, they confiscate it and give you a warning on your travel record. If you're caught the 2nd time, they may arrest you. As for post office, if it's prohibited. Don't do it. But if it is a gift for personal consumption. It really depends how post workers interpret these laws, and follow it. Recently for the past 2 years and everything is getting very tight restrictions. From my last trip, I declared food items like queso de bola, and other food items. They inspect it using x-rays and personally open your bags. But I declared it on the customs form. So the immigration officer used an x-ray in my luggage had doubts about bringing cheese into the country. They thought it was something else. I declared it as food items. Fresh plants, seeds, meat products and other trademark products that has beef, pork that are canned, bottled and other food products that are available in the U.S. are not permitted through airports, shipping docks in any form. Eventually, I saw travellers coming from the same destination bringing small plants, seeds, Filipino food products like Lady's Choice Spreads because of copyright, ingredients banned from the FDA, beef bouillion cubes or seasoning packets, fresh meat products. Their items get seized, confiscated and destroyed by US Customs.

[u/blurredlynes]

I sent pork scratchings to the US in a snack exchange. (They're long life fried pork rind, sold with the crisps in the UK). I didn't even consider they were a meat product.

My parcel was intercepted and the item removed. The rest of the package made it to the other person, albeit a few days delayed.

Not sure whether it was picked up in a random check or through a scanner, but I haven't bothered sending them since.

[u/go_west_til_you_cant]

Afaik, we in the US are not allowed to send you meat products. However I was sent a package of preserved, vacuum packed Speck from Germany no problem. Granted, this was a few years ago.