Yanwo, fresh chili peppers, fruits and vegetables, meat products, zongzi leaves for wrapping zongzi, and other items are all prohibited items that cannot be brought into the United States. U.S. Customs officials reminded all international flight passengers on Monday, May 19th, that certain foods, plants, and other agricultural products may carry pests and spread diseases, hence they are strictly prohibited from entering the United States.
“The best solution is to educate yourself in advance about what you can bring and what is prohibited before traveling. If passengers inadvertently bring such items, they must declare them,” Andrew Douglas, the Director of Border for Los Angeles International Airport of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), told reporters.
On Monday morning, several government departments from the U.S. and California held a joint press conference at Los Angeles International Airport, showcasing many foods and agricultural products prohibited from entering the United States. In addition to fruits, seeds, and meat that many people are already aware of, sealed meat sauces and sausages, deer antlers, bird’s nests, packaged pumpkin seeds, beef jerky snacks, rice, fresh chili peppers, plants with soil, leaves, and vegetables were all listed as items on the prohibited list.
Douglas mentioned that customs intercepts a large number of prohibited items every day. “In the 2024 fiscal year, we inspected over 11 million international passengers (luggage), intercepting over 70,000 types of prohibited or restricted animal and plant products, as well as over 1,500 types of pests.”
Lucy Ortiz, the Director of the CBP K9 Canine Program, reminded all international travelers that customs regulations change frequently, and some items that were once allowed may now be prohibited. Therefore, it is essential to do your homework before flying.
Customs has specially trained highly sensitive Beagle dogs for enforcement assistance. “They can detect all types of agricultural products,” Ortiz said. “Those who intentionally fail to declare or attempt to smuggle and conceal prohibited items must face the consequences.”
May marks the peak travel season in the United States. Victoria Hornbaker, Director of Plant Health and Pest Prevention Services at the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), said, “We encourage you to enjoy your time abroad, but please do not bring fruits, vegetables, meat products, or other natural products back to the U.S.”
Even some sealed items are not allowed entry. “Even if they are packaged, they may still carry invasive insect larvae or other substances that could contaminate California’s agriculture,” Hornbaker further explained. Items like packaged bird’s nests and zongzi leaves used for wrapping zongzi may appear harmless on the surface, but could potentially hide pest eggs or substances harmful to agriculture.
Customs officials pointed out that the number of intercepted pests from passenger and cargo items increased by 30% from the 2023 to 2024 fiscal year. They also conduct examinations specifically on flights from high-risk fruit fly countries.
The official website of the “Don’t Pack a Pest” program lists items that are prohibited from entering the U.S. and was jointly launched by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Customs and Border Protection, and several state agriculture departments.
Fruits and vegetables: 1) Nearly all fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables are prohibited from entering the U.S., including fresh fruits or vegetables given to passengers on airplanes or cruise ships. 2) Commercially canned fruits and vegetables can be brought if declared in advance, but home-canned products are not allowed. 3) Most dried fruits and vegetables are not allowed into the U.S. unless they meet specific requirements to prevent the spread of pests.
Soil, sand, and stones: 1) Without a USDA-approved soil treatment permit, except under specific circumstances from Canada, soils from all other countries including Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and all U.S. territories are prohibited from entering the U.S. 2) Travelers must prove to U.S. customs inspectors that imported peat, sand, clay, mementos, or stones do not contain soil, algae, or any other organic matter to enter the U.S.
Meat and seafood: 1) The USDA does not allow passengers to bring in most meats or meat products into the U.S.; 2) Most poultry or poultry products are not allowed into the U.S.; 3) There are no specific emphasis on most seafood items.
Plants and flowers: 1) Prohibited from carrying soil-grown plants; 2) Prohibited from carrying tree and shrub seeds in passenger luggage; 3) Fresh-cut flowers and green plants must be submitted for inspection to U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the first port of entry.
Coffee: 1) Travelers can bring roasted coffee and green coffee beans without roasting, but they must declare them upon entry; 2) Whole coffee berries are prohibited.
Eggs and dairy products: 1) The USDA does not allow passengers from countries affected by certain serious poultry diseases to bring back eggs or egg products; 2) Most milk and dairy products from foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) countries are not allowed.
(This article provides general reference information only and not investment, tax, legal, real estate, or financial planning advice. For more detailed information, travelers can visit the U.S. government website for self-inquiry.)