TLDR;
Okay ji, so this video is all about what food items you can and cannot carry to the US. Kanika shares her personal experience of landing in the US and finding customs tickets in her luggage, indicating that some items were removed. She then gives a breakdown of banned agricultural products, fruits, vegetables, animal by-products, plants, and seeds. On the flip side, she also lists allowed items like spices, tea, coffee, nuts, dairy products, fish, seafood, pickles, ready mixes, sweets, snacks, chocolates, and baked items. The main takeaway is to pack everything properly in sealed, commercially labeled packages and declare them on the form you get on the flight.
- Agricultural products, fruits, vegetables, animal by-products, plants, and seeds are generally banned.
- Spices, tea, coffee, nuts, dairy products, fish, seafood, pickles, ready mixes, sweets, snacks, chocolates, and baked items are generally allowed if packed properly.
- Always declare food items on the customs form.
Intro and Gratitude [0:31]
Kanika starts off by thanking everyone for the love and support on her channel. She mentions that when she landed in the US, she wanted to make videos to guide others, as she didn't have anyone to guide her. She appreciates the messages and support she receives daily and promises to continue making videos. She also thanks the 800 people who have subscribed to her channel and encourages others to subscribe if they find her content helpful.
Video Agenda: Food Items and Packing List [1:32]
The agenda for this video is to discuss food items that you can and cannot bring to the US. Kanika mentions that she will make another video about a detailed packing list. She then shares a personal experience about bringing homemade ghee and butter to the US, only to find customs tickets in her luggage, indicating that some items were removed. She still doesn't know exactly what they took out.
Banned Food Items in the US [3:04]
Kanika explains the four main categories of food items that are banned from entering the US. These include agricultural products (like rice, pulses, flour), fruits and vegetables (like mangoes, limes, oranges), animal by-products (fresh, dried, canned, or cooked meat), and plants and seeds. The reason for these restrictions is to prevent foreign pests and diseases from harming US crops and livestock. If you still want to carry agricultural products, make sure they are in sealed manufacturer packaging and declared on the form.
Allowed Food Items in the US [5:18]
Kanika says ideally you shouldn't carry anything and just take yourself. But for the initial days, it's good to have some food items with you. She lists several food items that are generally allowed by US customs. These include spices (commercially labeled or packed by professionals), tea and coffee, nuts (dried, roasted, cooked, or steamed), milk and dairy products (commercially packed), fish and seafood (canned, frozen, dried, or smoked in small quantities), pickles and ready mixes (unopened and commercially packed), instant noodles (without meat), sweets and snacks, chocolates, candies, and baked items.
Important Considerations and Disclaimer [8:43]
Kanika mentions that even if the above-mentioned products are generally allowed, US customs might still withhold certain food items for further inspection. She emphasizes that her advice is based on her personal experience and that it can vary from case to case. The worst that can happen is that customs will open your luggage and remove the prohibited items. She concludes by thanking viewers and offering help via Instagram.