Roberta Aguirre
Bringing food into London from abroad can be tricky, and it's important to know your allowances and restrictions. The UK government has a lot of information on bringing food into Great Britain, and there are different rules for England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. While some foods are restricted, such as meat, dairy, and fish, others are allowed without restriction, like bread and cakes. Bringing food onto a plane is also subject to rules, with liquids and gels restricted to 100ml containers in hand luggage. Powders and food items are allowed but may obstruct x-ray images, so they are recommended to be placed in hold baggage.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Food allowed without restrictions | Bread, cakes, biscuits, sweets, chocolate, pasta |
| Food with restrictions | Meat, dairy, fish, animal products, fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds |
| Food prohibited | Potato chips, tins of matchstick potatoes, chestnuts (unless from the EU or European Mediterranean countries) |
| Food allowed under specific conditions | Infant food, special food for medical reasons, pet food for medical reasons, frogs' legs (back part with skin and internal organs removed), caviar (with a CITES permit) |
| Liquids | Only limited quantities of liquids are allowed, including bottled drinks, suntan lotion, fragrances, cosmetics, and toiletries. Each container must hold no more than 100ml and must be placed in a single, resealable, clear plastic bag. |
| Powders | Allowed if purchased at duty-free and packaged in a security tamper-evident bag with a receipt. Medical powders, baby powders, and human ashes are allowed but subject to further checks. |
| Electronic devices | Must be charged and switched on for security checks. |
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What You'll Learn
Bringing food into Great Britain from another country
There are rules and restrictions for bringing food into Great Britain from another country. The UK government website provides information on what food items are prohibited from being brought into the country. The rules on bringing meat, dairy, fish, and other animal products depend on the country you are coming from. There are restrictions on bringing meat, dairy, fish and animal products, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds into Great Britain from abroad. For example, you cannot bring in meat or dairy products from any EU country into Great Britain for personal use. This temporary restriction is to prevent the spread of foot and mouth disease after recent outbreaks in Europe.
There are some surprising restrictions on bringing food into Great Britain. For example, while you can bring in allowed quantities of most fruits and vegetables from the USA, you cannot bring chestnuts. Only chestnuts from the EU and European Mediterranean countries are allowed. You can bring in up to 2kg per person of powdered infant milk, infant food, or special food needed for medical reasons. These items can only be brought in if they do not need to be refrigerated before use and are in branded, unopened packaging (unless in current use).
Bringing food in hand luggage is permitted, but it is not recommended. Food items can obstruct images on the X-ray machine or may be mistaken for suspicious items. It is best to pack food in hold baggage to reduce the need for additional checks and minimise delays at security. Liquids, including drinks, creams, lotions, oils, perfumes, mascara, lip gloss, sprays, foams, pastes, gels, solutions, and semi-liquid foods, are allowed in hand luggage but only in containers holding 100ml or less. They must be carried separately in a single bag that can be closed properly with all the items inside.
If you are bringing in any food or animal products protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), you may need to apply for a CITES permit.
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Restrictions on meat, dairy, and animal products
There are restrictions on bringing meat, dairy, and animal products into Great Britain from abroad. The rules on bringing meat, dairy, and animal products depend on the country you are coming from. Currently, meat and dairy products from any EU country are restricted for personal use. This temporary restriction is to prevent the spread of foot-and-mouth disease after recent outbreaks in Europe. The disease can be devastating to cattle, sheep, pigs, and other cloven-hoofed animals.
There are also restrictions on bringing in meat and dairy products for pets. You cannot bring in meat products like pig, cow, sheep, goat, and deer for non-human consumption, for example, pet food made with pig meat. You can bring in up to 2kg of special pet food per person for medical reasons. It should not be refrigerated and should be in branded, unopened packaging. If you are bringing in permitted animal products that are not for human consumption, such as pet food made with chicken, they must be commercially packaged with the manufacturer's name and address.
There are exemptions to the rules, including a limited amount of infant milk, medical foods, and certain composite products such as chocolate, bread, cakes, biscuits, and pasta.
If you are bringing in any food or animal products protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), you may need to apply for a CITES permit.
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Bringing food onto the plane in hand luggage
If you do need to bring food on board, allow extra time at security. Food items are permitted in hand luggage, but there are restrictions on bringing meat, dairy, fish, and animal products, as well as fruit, vegetables, nuts, and seeds into Great Britain from abroad. Bread, cakes, biscuits, sweets, chocolate, and pasta are allowed. Liquids, including bottled drinks, suntan lotion, fragrances, cosmetics, and frozen liquids, are only permitted in containers holding 100ml or less. They must be carried separately in a single, resealable, clear plastic bag, which can be properly closed with all items inside. Liquids in containers over 100ml will not be permitted through security.
Breast milk can be carried in hand luggage and must be stored in a clear, transparent container or bag, and cannot be frozen or stored in a flask. Each container must hold no more than two litres. Baby food and milk are exempt from the 100ml rule. Powders purchased at duty-free must be carried in a security tamper-evident bag with a receipt inside.
For certain destinations, there are restrictions on the sale of liquids. This is because you will have to pass through security at the connecting airport. It is best to check with your airline and airport before travelling, as individual hand baggage allowances can vary.
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Liquids, gels, and powders in hand luggage
Liquids, gels, and powders are allowed in hand luggage when flying into London airports, but only in limited quantities. This includes bottled drinks, suntan lotion, fragrances, cosmetics, toiletries, and all frozen liquids. Liquids must be in containers of 100ml or less and must be carried separately in a single, resealable, clear plastic bag that measures no more than 20cm x 20cm. The bag must be able to close properly with all items inside and must be placed in a tray during security screening. Liquids in containers over 100ml will not be permitted through security and must be packed in hold baggage instead.
Breast milk is an exception to the 100ml rule and can be carried in hand luggage, even if not travelling with a baby. It must be stored in a clear, transparent container or bag, and each container must hold no more than two litres. It cannot be frozen or stored in a flask.
Powders, including food and medical powders, are also allowed in hand luggage but can cause delays at security as they may obstruct x-ray images or be mistaken for suspicious items. It is recommended to pack these items in hold baggage to minimise delays. Powders purchased at duty-free may be carried in hand luggage if packaged in a security tamper-evident bag with a receipt inside.
For some destinations, restrictions may apply to the sale of liquids if you are stopping en route or returning on the same day, as you will need to pass through security again at the connecting or return airport.
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Food items that are restricted
There are restrictions on bringing certain food items into London airports. Food items and powders in hand luggage can obstruct images on X-ray machines, so it is recommended to pack food items in hold baggage. Liquids are allowed in hand luggage as long as they are less than 100ml and must be carried in one resealable clear plastic bag. This includes drinks, creams, lotions, perfumes, gels, pastes, solutions, and semi-liquid foods.
There are restrictions on bringing meat, dairy, fish, and animal products, as well as fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds into Great Britain from abroad. For example, you cannot bring canned corned beef, devilled ham, or potato chips from outside the EU. There are also restrictions on bringing in certain animal products, such as pet food made with pig, cow, sheep, goat, or deer meat. However, you can bring up to 2kg of powdered infant milk, infant food, or special food needed for medical reasons, as long as it is in unopened packaging and does not need to be refrigerated.
Some food items are prohibited from being brought into the UK, and the rules vary depending on the country you are coming from. For example, only chestnuts from the EU and European Mediterranean countries are allowed, while Kava Kava, a herbal remedy, is banned due to its potential to cause liver damage. If you are bringing in food items protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), you may need to apply for a CITES permit.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can bring packaged food into London airports, but it is recommended to put them in your hold baggage. Food items can obstruct images on the X-ray machine and may be mistaken for suspicious items.
There are restrictions on bringing meat, dairy, fish, and animal products, as well as fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds into London airports.
Yes, there are no restrictions on items such as bread, cakes, biscuits, sweets, chocolate, and pasta.
Only limited quantities of liquids may be carried through airport security. This includes bottled drinks, suntan lotion, fragrances, cosmetics, and toiletries. Liquids must be in containers holding 100ml or less and placed in a clear plastic bag.
Yes, breast milk can be carried in the cabin and stored in a clear, transparent container or bag. Each container must hold no more than two litres and cannot be frozen or stored in a flask.
