Forums > General > Traveling Mexico

PirateJohn

May 11, 2006, 10:08 AM

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Bringing foods across the border

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We will be motorhoming it in a few months. What foods are going to cause trouble as we cross into Mexico and then back into the States? I'd sure hate to have to leave my entire case of Skyline Cincinnati Chili behind somewhere ;)

--PirateJohn--
www.PirateJohn.com
John "PirateJohn" Gilmer
South Texas
PirateJohn's website at www.PirateJohn.com

Rolly

May 11, 2006, 10:55 AM

Post #2 of 10 (887 views)

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Re: [PirateJohn] Bringing foods across the border

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Fresh food -- meat, plant material, fish, dairy, etc are not allowed into Mexico.

Canned and packaged are OK.

Dried and frozen -- maybe yes, maybe no.

The USA has pretty much the same rules.

Rolly Pirate

PirateJohn

May 11, 2006, 11:29 AM

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Re: [Rolly] Bringing foods across the border

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Thanks Rolly!
John "PirateJohn" Gilmer
South Texas
PirateJohn's website at www.PirateJohn.com

alex .

May 12, 2006, 10:33 AM

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Re: [Rolly] Bringing foods across the border

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I remember bringing the coach back from Mexico, after the tow dolly had been stolen off it and the coach itself graffitied. All I had in the fridge was a half full jar of strawberry jelly. That was it, not even an ice cube. Two US Customs guys discussed it for a moment and decided between them that it was OK. The drug dogs were not interested in the jelly, perhaps because there was no peanut butter to go with it.
Alex

sfmacaws

May 12, 2006, 9:38 PM

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Re: [Rolly] Bringing foods across the border

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Rolly's got it. re frozen food, no problem with vegetables, seafood, packaged juices. Fruits are probably up in the air, I've never had them question frozen berries or peaches. Frozen meat will probably be taken along with any sandwich type meats, raw chicken, pork or beef.

Not legal but here is what we do. We put all the frozen meats into a cooler, pour a bag or two of ice over it and then put a bunch of soda cans on top. Set it between the seats in the front and no one has looked at it going into Mexico, Belize or Guatemala. I got a little chicken with the US and put the couple of frozen steaks I had in the sink with the sink cover on them. Figured I could make a plausible excuse for that but not for the cooler or the laundry basket.

They will also take all meat when entering Campeche from Tabasco, cooler works so far.

I realize I'm breaking the law. I don't care to hear about it when 2 legged meat on the shoe is crossing constantly with no real repurcussions.

Jonna - Mérida, Yucatán

Jean

May 13, 2006, 6:07 AM

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Re: [sfmacaws] Bringing foods across the border

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When we crossed into the US we had no problem with food, but the food guards conviscated all our dog food that was not made in the USA. If you are travelling with pets. Beware.

Jean
Retirement Communities
http://www.retirecommunities.com

PirateJohn

May 13, 2006, 9:50 AM

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Re: [sfmacaws] Bringing foods across the border

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<< They will also take all meat when entering Campeche from Tabasco, cooler works so far. >>

Does that include meats purchased in Mexico?
John "PirateJohn" Gilmer
South Texas
PirateJohn's website at www.PirateJohn.com

PirateJohn

May 13, 2006, 9:51 AM

Post #8 of 10 (748 views)

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Re: [alex .] Bringing foods across the border

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<< I remember bringing the coach back from Mexico, after the tow dolly had been stolen off it and the coach itself graffitied. >>

Ouch! Alex, where did this happen? And is there a story there?
John "PirateJohn" Gilmer
South Texas
PirateJohn's website at www.PirateJohn.com

sfmacaws

May 13, 2006, 3:31 PM

Post #9 of 10 (720 views)

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Re: [PirateJohn] Bringing foods across the border

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We have also had dog food confiscated by the US, it didn't matter where it was made or whether the bag was open. There view is that anything that has been in Mexico, even for 10 minutes, is now Mexican. This year they didn't take the dog food though, or even ask or look for it although of course they saw the dogs and must have known we had some.

Yes, any meat crossing into Campeche will be taken. It doesn't matter where it is from. In fact, I once had some frozen pork chops that were from the US, clearly not Tabasco, and they took those anyway. Same deal, if it has been there it is from there.

It's not worth getting upset by it, it is just the way borders work. I just try and keep them from taking anything I really want and I try not to have anything that would endanger their ecosystem with me. Of course, I don't know the reasons for the different rules so I may well be a typhoid Mary of frozen beef. This year I took my Belizean Mennonite steaks across into Guatemala, back into Mexico and 2 of them back into the US. They were good steaks.

Jonna - Mérida, Yucatán

alex .

May 15, 2006, 2:36 PM

Post #10 of 10 (664 views)

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Re: [PirateJohn] Bringing foods across the border

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A neighbor of mine asked about the tow dolly as it was attached to the frame of the coach with a lock and chain around the hitch. "How does the car stay on?" he asked. I showed him the tie downs that go over the front wheels. "Oh, I see. I'm moving to Ensenada this weekend, would you consider renting it?" "Well, I'll think about it". It was a special made dolly just for compact cars, I had specified to the fabricatior that I didn't need something 8 feet wide to transport a Tsuru, and I didn't know the guy, or even in which unit he lived. I didn't see him again all that week. Saturday morning it was gone, just a cut lock on the ground where the dolly once was. I swear I've seen that tow dolly in Ensenada behind an old Chevy truck advertising tow service.
The graffiti is just part of urban living: if anything stays in one place very long it gets a free paint job. Too bad it wasn't done artfully like some murals I've seen in Los Angeles; I'd'a left it like that.
Alex