Should I declare chocolate as “food” when entering the US?












1














It is being customary we bring a few authentic Russian chocolate bars/sweets to the US but we are always struggling whether we should check that "food" checkbox in the "Customs Declaration" form?



It is under the following entry in the form (yeah, together with insects, right):




I am (We are) bringing:



fruits, vegetables, plants, seeds, food, insects




I've been always checking it but that just gets us into more lines and triggers extra questions after getting to the baggage check.






usa customs-and-immigration food-and-drink local-customs







share|improve this question



























    1














    It is being customary we bring a few authentic Russian chocolate bars/sweets to the US but we are always struggling whether we should check that "food" checkbox in the "Customs Declaration" form?



    It is under the following entry in the form (yeah, together with insects, right):




    I am (We are) bringing:



    fruits, vegetables, plants, seeds, food, insects




    I've been always checking it but that just gets us into more lines and triggers extra questions after getting to the baggage check.






    usa customs-and-immigration food-and-drink local-customs







    share|improve this question

























      1












      1








      1







      It is being customary we bring a few authentic Russian chocolate bars/sweets to the US but we are always struggling whether we should check that "food" checkbox in the "Customs Declaration" form?



      It is under the following entry in the form (yeah, together with insects, right):




      I am (We are) bringing:



      fruits, vegetables, plants, seeds, food, insects




      I've been always checking it but that just gets us into more lines and triggers extra questions after getting to the baggage check.






      usa customs-and-immigration food-and-drink local-customs







      share|improve this question













      It is being customary we bring a few authentic Russian chocolate bars/sweets to the US but we are always struggling whether we should check that "food" checkbox in the "Customs Declaration" form?



      It is under the following entry in the form (yeah, together with insects, right):




      I am (We are) bringing:



      fruits, vegetables, plants, seeds, food, insects




      I've been always checking it but that just gets us into more lines and triggers extra questions after getting to the baggage check.






      usa customs-and-immigration food-and-drink local-customs




      usa customs-and-immigration food-and-drink local-customs






      share|improve this question













      share|improve this question











      share|improve this question




      share|improve this question










      asked 3 hours ago









      alecxe

      18916




      18916






















          2 Answers
          2






          active

          oldest

          votes


















          6














          Yes, according to US CBP officers, you should declare it as food. I'm bringing chocolate every time I fly from Europe.



          Generally what happens next, is they ask what exactly do you bring, you say "chocolate" and they let you go.



          As a general rule, if you are not sure whether something need to be declared or not, declare it. There are no penalties for declaring something which doesn't need to be declared.






          share|improve this answer

















          • 3




            This is my experience as well. I sometimes volunteer that it’s prepackaged chocolate when I hand in the paperwork at customs, and they usually wave me through.
            – Zach Lipton
            3 hours ago










          • If you say anything reasonable (e.g. "canned fish", "chocolate", "nuts", etc.) the CBP people will hardly raise their eyebrows.
            – xuq01
            2 hours ago



















          2














          a) Chocolate, being a thing eaten by humans, is indeed "food."



          b) If you say you're not carrying food, and your baggage is searched by Customs and the chocolate discovered, then they have you for lying on your Customs forms. That would be uncomfortable, possibly expensive, and could result entry to the US being delayed or denied.



          Your choice.






          share|improve this answer





















          • The point a) is hilarious! You got me there :D Thanks!
            – alecxe
            3 hours ago











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          2 Answers
          2






          active

          oldest

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          2 Answers
          2






          active

          oldest

          votes









          active

          oldest

          votes






          active

          oldest

          votes









          6














          Yes, according to US CBP officers, you should declare it as food. I'm bringing chocolate every time I fly from Europe.



          Generally what happens next, is they ask what exactly do you bring, you say "chocolate" and they let you go.



          As a general rule, if you are not sure whether something need to be declared or not, declare it. There are no penalties for declaring something which doesn't need to be declared.






          share|improve this answer

















          • 3




            This is my experience as well. I sometimes volunteer that it’s prepackaged chocolate when I hand in the paperwork at customs, and they usually wave me through.
            – Zach Lipton
            3 hours ago










          • If you say anything reasonable (e.g. "canned fish", "chocolate", "nuts", etc.) the CBP people will hardly raise their eyebrows.
            – xuq01
            2 hours ago
















          6














          Yes, according to US CBP officers, you should declare it as food. I'm bringing chocolate every time I fly from Europe.



          Generally what happens next, is they ask what exactly do you bring, you say "chocolate" and they let you go.



          As a general rule, if you are not sure whether something need to be declared or not, declare it. There are no penalties for declaring something which doesn't need to be declared.






          share|improve this answer

















          • 3




            This is my experience as well. I sometimes volunteer that it’s prepackaged chocolate when I hand in the paperwork at customs, and they usually wave me through.
            – Zach Lipton
            3 hours ago










          • If you say anything reasonable (e.g. "canned fish", "chocolate", "nuts", etc.) the CBP people will hardly raise their eyebrows.
            – xuq01
            2 hours ago














          6












          6








          6






          Yes, according to US CBP officers, you should declare it as food. I'm bringing chocolate every time I fly from Europe.



          Generally what happens next, is they ask what exactly do you bring, you say "chocolate" and they let you go.



          As a general rule, if you are not sure whether something need to be declared or not, declare it. There are no penalties for declaring something which doesn't need to be declared.






          share|improve this answer












          Yes, according to US CBP officers, you should declare it as food. I'm bringing chocolate every time I fly from Europe.



          Generally what happens next, is they ask what exactly do you bring, you say "chocolate" and they let you go.



          As a general rule, if you are not sure whether something need to be declared or not, declare it. There are no penalties for declaring something which doesn't need to be declared.







          share|improve this answer












          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer










          answered 3 hours ago









          George Y.

          18.9k13077




          18.9k13077








          • 3




            This is my experience as well. I sometimes volunteer that it’s prepackaged chocolate when I hand in the paperwork at customs, and they usually wave me through.
            – Zach Lipton
            3 hours ago










          • If you say anything reasonable (e.g. "canned fish", "chocolate", "nuts", etc.) the CBP people will hardly raise their eyebrows.
            – xuq01
            2 hours ago














          • 3




            This is my experience as well. I sometimes volunteer that it’s prepackaged chocolate when I hand in the paperwork at customs, and they usually wave me through.
            – Zach Lipton
            3 hours ago










          • If you say anything reasonable (e.g. "canned fish", "chocolate", "nuts", etc.) the CBP people will hardly raise their eyebrows.
            – xuq01
            2 hours ago








          3




          3




          This is my experience as well. I sometimes volunteer that it’s prepackaged chocolate when I hand in the paperwork at customs, and they usually wave me through.
          – Zach Lipton
          3 hours ago




          This is my experience as well. I sometimes volunteer that it’s prepackaged chocolate when I hand in the paperwork at customs, and they usually wave me through.
          – Zach Lipton
          3 hours ago












          If you say anything reasonable (e.g. "canned fish", "chocolate", "nuts", etc.) the CBP people will hardly raise their eyebrows.
          – xuq01
          2 hours ago




          If you say anything reasonable (e.g. "canned fish", "chocolate", "nuts", etc.) the CBP people will hardly raise their eyebrows.
          – xuq01
          2 hours ago













          2














          a) Chocolate, being a thing eaten by humans, is indeed "food."



          b) If you say you're not carrying food, and your baggage is searched by Customs and the chocolate discovered, then they have you for lying on your Customs forms. That would be uncomfortable, possibly expensive, and could result entry to the US being delayed or denied.



          Your choice.






          share|improve this answer





















          • The point a) is hilarious! You got me there :D Thanks!
            – alecxe
            3 hours ago
















          2














          a) Chocolate, being a thing eaten by humans, is indeed "food."



          b) If you say you're not carrying food, and your baggage is searched by Customs and the chocolate discovered, then they have you for lying on your Customs forms. That would be uncomfortable, possibly expensive, and could result entry to the US being delayed or denied.



          Your choice.






          share|improve this answer





















          • The point a) is hilarious! You got me there :D Thanks!
            – alecxe
            3 hours ago














          2












          2








          2






          a) Chocolate, being a thing eaten by humans, is indeed "food."



          b) If you say you're not carrying food, and your baggage is searched by Customs and the chocolate discovered, then they have you for lying on your Customs forms. That would be uncomfortable, possibly expensive, and could result entry to the US being delayed or denied.



          Your choice.






          share|improve this answer












          a) Chocolate, being a thing eaten by humans, is indeed "food."



          b) If you say you're not carrying food, and your baggage is searched by Customs and the chocolate discovered, then they have you for lying on your Customs forms. That would be uncomfortable, possibly expensive, and could result entry to the US being delayed or denied.



          Your choice.







          share|improve this answer












          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer










          answered 3 hours ago









          David

          1,7301315




          1,7301315












          • The point a) is hilarious! You got me there :D Thanks!
            – alecxe
            3 hours ago


















          • The point a) is hilarious! You got me there :D Thanks!
            – alecxe
            3 hours ago
















          The point a) is hilarious! You got me there :D Thanks!
          – alecxe
          3 hours ago




          The point a) is hilarious! You got me there :D Thanks!
          – alecxe
          3 hours ago


















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