Cheese...............

[POP Bad Boy]

Does anyone know whether you can put those "balls" of cheese in your ***CARRYON**** when traveling from POP to the US??

A few months ago they took some bars of soap...........so I'd rather check to see if anyone has had experience with cheese as a "carryon"........

.........we don't check bags.........

Thanks

 

[jrhartley]

i doubt it ! wouldnt it show up as an unknown mass on the detector - like dynamite

 

[nuguynyc]

I would imagine you are referring to Queso de Hoja, but regardless there are severe restrictions on fruit, vegetables, poultry, meat and dairy entering the US.

The dogs will sniff it out and it will be confiscated. Hopefully you will not hold a criminal record or outstanding warrants, because the authorities will take the opportunity to run your name "through the system" while they have an excuse.

 

[Fiesta Mama]

We bring it back to Canada regularly but we put it in our checked luggage so it has never been confiscated. We have not had our luggage checked when entering Canada but if we ever do get checked, they might take it because it's a dairy product. If you do decide to take it, one thing to think about that we have had problems with is the cheese gets warm and the wax cracks if it's just shoved in with everything and then you have to use it faster because it's exposed. If you can put it in a little box so it can keep its shape in your bag, it will be better preserved. I would think the worst they would do is confiscate it. We've exported jugs of coconut water, salami, etc. and the customs/immigration people in POP have never cared.

 

[POP Bad Boy]

I would imagine you are referring to Queso de Hoja, but regardless there are severe restrictions on fruit, vegetables, poultry, meat and dairy entering the US.

The dogs will sniff it out and it will be confiscated. Hopefully you will not hold a criminal record or outstanding warrants, because the authorities will take the opportunity to run your name "through the system" while they have an excuse.

QUESO de HOJA is allowed in the US........we have brought it many times.....It has even been looked at and ok'd and they will usually ask if we have any salami.......because that is not allowed...........

.......but it has always been in checked bags..........I was wondering about the carry on.......

 

[nuguynyc]

We bring it back to Canada regularly but we put it in our checked luggage so it has never been confiscated. We have not had our luggage checked when entering Canada but if we ever do get checked, they might take it because it's a dairy product. If you do decide to take it, one thing to think about that we have had problems with is the cheese gets warm and the wax cracks if it's just shoved in with everything and then you have to use it faster because it's exposed. If you can put it in a little box so it can keep its shape in your bag, it will be better preserved. I would think the worst they would do is confiscate it. We've exported jugs of coconut water, salami, etc. and the customs/immigration people in POP have never cared.

This cannot even be interpreted. How is CANADA the United States??

I feel like I'm taking crazy pills when I read stuff like this.

OP: Here is a good example: The mother of a close friend of mine flew last December from SDQ to JFK. In her suitcase, she had packed Queso de Hoja, Queso Amarillo and Pasteles en Hoja. When retreiving her luggage, they detained her for 2 hours and confiscated ALL of the contents of that suitcase.

Case and Point: The UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (via TSA, FAA, APHIS, FDA, etc.) have extensive restrictions on many, many items.

Your best bet will be to contact the destination airport, the carrying airline as well as the above Federal websites.

Good luck,
NU

 

[nuguynyc]

QUESO de HOJA is allowed in the US........we have brought it many times.....It has even been looked at and ok'd and they will usually ask if we have any salami.......because that is not allowed...........

.......but it has always been in checked bags..........I was wondering about the carry on.......

Ok, but the problem with "certain" cheeses is if it is verifiable that it has been Heat pasteurized according to ISO and FDA standards. They let some in, some not. Remember in the States, the beagles will be sniffing for ANY food.

As for the diff between carry-on and check-in, need consult the TSA website.

 

[Fiesta Mama]

This cannot even be interpreted. How is CANADA the United States??

I feel like I'm taking crazy pills when I read stuff like this.

OP: Here is a good example: The mother of a close friend of mine flew last December from SDQ to JFK. In her suitcase, she had packed Queso de Hoja, Queso Amarillo and Pasteles en Hoja. When retreiving her luggage, they detained her for 2 hours and confiscated ALL of the contents of that suitcase.

Case and Point: The UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (via TSA, FAA, APHIS, FDA, etc.) have extensive restrictions on many, many items.

Your best bet will be to contact the destination airport, the carrying airline as well as the above Federal websites.

Good luck,
NU

Yes, I know the restrictions for Canada and the U.S. are different. However, I believe the OP was referring to whether the people at the POP airport would check the carry-on and take the cheese and that is what I was referrencing and I only added that he likely would have more worries at the other end as opposed to in the DR as that is what we worry about more when we bring stuff back to Canada (ie. they are more strict on imports/experts than the airport personnel in the DR).

 

[AnnaC]

Not sure about what you can and can't bring through the checkpoint? Here's a list of liquid, aerosol and gel items that you should put in your checked bag, ship ahead, or leave at home.

• Cranberry sauce
• Cologne
• Creamy dips and spreads
  (cheeses, peanut butter, etc.)
• Gift baskets with food items
  (salsa, jams and salad dressings)
• Gravy
• Jams
• Jellies
• Lotions

• Maple syrup
• Oils and vinegars
• Perfume
• Salad dressing
• Salsa
• Sauces
• Snowglobes
• Soups
• Wine, liquor and beer

Taken from TSA: Traveling with Food or Gifts

 

[AnnaC]

Queso de hoja isn't made from milk is it? Maybe you should call and ask.

 

[Arrica]

Not sure about what you can and can't bring through the checkpoint? Here's a list of liquid, aerosol and gel items that you should put in your checked bag, ship ahead, or leave at home.

• Cranberry sauce
• Cologne
• Creamy dips and spreads
  (cheeses, peanut butter, etc.)
• Gift baskets with food items
  (salsa, jams and salad dressings)
• Gravy
• Jams
• Jellies
• Lotions

• Maple syrup
• Oils and vinegars
• Perfume
• Salad dressing
• Salsa
• Sauces
• Snowglobes
• Soups
• Wine, liquor and beer

Taken from TSA: Traveling with Food or Gifts

Now, I wonder why TSA has become so specific as to "cranberry sauce", "gravy" - is that because Thanksgiving is approaching, or does it mean that you can take "blueberry pudding", "sauce bearnaise" instead

 

[jrhartley]

cheese salami and coconut water ? why ? lol

 

[oriole100]

If they are wrwpped tight, you shouldn't have a problem. Have a copy of the bill. If it is packaged you shouldn't have a problem. If you bought it local, Good lock.

 

[jrhartley]

no problem in carry on luggage ? really ?

 

[POP Bad Boy]

Thanks...................

.......I think we'll wait til a time when we check bags.................we've brought cheese before in checked baggage with no trouble..........

.............this time we'll bring avocados instead.............we've done that before in carry on with no problem.............avocados ARE allowed..........

The main reason I was asking, was that in POP, you never know.......they have taken over time, batteries.......soap........razor blades (the kind that are in plastic cartridges) etc............SO YOU NEVER KNOW.!

Thought it would be an easy "yes" or "no" to cheese......never thought it would be subject to so much discussion! LOL

 

[Fiesta Mama]

cheese salami and coconut water ? why ? lol

They were parting gifts. One of our friends that we had treated to a nice dinner at a restaurant one night on our vacation wanted to give us something to take home with us to show us his appreciation. He showed up at my husband's family's house with a jug of coconut water and a bag of pulp. It must have taken about 10 coconuts to fill it. For all his hard work, we certainly couldn't refuse it so we took it with us and had no problem My husband's brother works at Productos Sosua Cheese Factory so the cheese was a gift from him and the salami was to satisfy my Dominican husband who can't buy the same stuff back home (and for the record, I can't stand the stuff).

 

[jrhartley]

funny the strange things we get used to eating in our home countries lol

 

[DanaP]

why not just check a bag.....saves a lot of hassle and potential heartbreak from a loss of cheese. Which trust me, is no laughing matter!!

d

 

[DanaP]

although losing queso de hoja would not break my heart, but a good sharp cheddar, which i import in enormous blocks, would just about kill me if it was taken.....don't mess with a woman's cheese!