'Declare meats, fruits, vegetables': Travelers to US get weird reminder from CBP

The Customs and Border Police Saturday issued a reminder to people traveling to the US that they are required to declare meats, fruits, vegetables, plants, seeds, soil, animal as well as plant and animal products they are carrying to the country. This is not a new rule but recently there have been several cases where non-declaration of these items got travelers penalized.

The post drew attention as the social media reminder was accompanied by a photo of a CBP detection dog inspecting a cooked pig's head wrapped in aluminum foil.

What does the rule say?

According to CBP rules, all travelers entering the United States are required to declare meats, fruits, vegetables, plants, seeds, soil, animals, as well as plant and animal products (including soup or soup products) they may be carrying. The declaration must cover all items carried in checked baggage, carry-on luggage, or in a vehicle.

Upon examination of plants, animal products, and associated items, the CBP agriculture specialists at the ports of entry will determine if these items meet the entry requirements of the United States.

Traveling with food?

All travelers entering the United States are REQUIRED to declare meats, fruits, vegetables, plants, seeds, soil, animals, as well as plant and animal products they may be carrying.

Figure out how: https://t.co/L7tFmtKF6n pic.twitter.com/PmRHYRxSqF

— CBP (@CBP) July 26, 2025

If these prohibited items are bot declared by passengers, they are confiscated and disposed of by CBP. Penalties may range up to $1,000 per first-time offense for non-commercial quantities.

In March, a US TikToker who was coming back home after traveling from Signapore narrated his ordeal at the JFK Airport, He declared nothing at customs but when he went to get his Uber, border agents and a sniffer dog stopped him to take a look at his bag. The dog smelled something in his bag and it was a banana about which the TikToker said he completely forgot. The CBP warned him of a possible $500 fine for bringing in an undeclared agricultural item. "I was rightfully flabbergasted. I know what can and can’t be brought across borders — I’ve traveled my entire life, visited over 20 countries, and explored all 50 states thoroughly. But the way this was handled struck me as odd," the TikToker said.