International travelers entering the United States must be very careful about what items they bring with them, and it is essential to thoroughly check their luggage for any food items before entering the airport customs area. Some specific foods, plants, and other agricultural products may carry pests and spread diseases, hence they are strictly prohibited from entering the United States.
A TikTok user had a firsthand experience of the consequences of not declaring food items when entering the United States, as she had an apple confiscated by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The user, known as “Discovering with Dina,” shared her story of returning to the U.S. from Amsterdam and forgetting to declare the apple in her luggage, which nearly resulted in a hefty fine and the revocation of her Global Entry status.
In a five-second video clip, Dina is seen standing with her suitcase at the baggage claim area, with a caption below the image stating, “Little did she know, a K-9 was about to come and sniff out the apple she forgot to declare at Customs, which would have led to a $500 fine and the cancellation of her Global Entry.”
She detailed the situation in her post, explaining that a CBP officer approached her and inquired about food in her bag, as the trained K-9 had detected the smell of food. The officer reportedly told her, “I can fine you $500 right now and cancel your Global Entry.”
According to the CBP, all agricultural products must be declared and undergo inspection by CBP agriculture specialists at the port of entry to ensure they do not contain plant pests and foreign animal diseases. Prohibited or restricted items include fresh fruits and vegetables, plants and fresh flowers, seeds, soil, meat, and other products made from animal or plant materials.
As per Dina’s account, the officer confiscated her passport and inspected all her luggage.
“He (CBP officer) said if I lied about the apple (not declaring it), I would be fined $300,” Dina wrote in her post. “So if I actually had the apple, I could potentially be fined another $500.”
CBP stated that prohibited items are intercepted by Customs daily, and in the 2024 fiscal year, Customs inspected over 11 million international traveler bags, seizing over 70,000 types of prohibited or restricted plant and animal products, as well as over 1,500 types of pests.
When entering the United States, travelers must declare all purchases over $800, cash amounts exceeding $10,000 (including traveler’s checks), as well as all food, plant, and animal products. The full list of restricted and prohibited items can be found on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) website.
The USDA website advises travelers to retain receipts and original packaging of agricultural products as proof of their country of origin. As long as travelers declare all agricultural products to CBP officers, even if inspectors determine these items cannot be allowed entry, there will be no penalties.
In the end, Dina only received a warning and no fine, prompting her to create a video to caution other travelers who may face similar situations. She wrote, “Thank goodness I only got a warning because it was my first offense, but it reminded me to take this seriously. I really did forget about the apple, and since forms are no longer required on the plane, declaring apples is not the top priority anymore. I also didn’t know all food items had to be declared, even processed foods.”