A recent increase in cases where travelers are punished for bringing food items into the United States without declaring them shows how strict the rules are for agricultural imports. It’s easy to make the mistake at the airport. However, the consequences can include large fines or even the cancellation of fast-track travel programs like Global Entry.
What are the most common items people get in trouble for? Fruits that seem harmless. One traveler, a social media influencer, told a story about a K9 dog finding an apple in her bag that she didn’t declare when she returned to the United States from Amsterdam. As found by People, the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer told her she could have been fined $500 for having the undeclared fruit, plus another $300 for not reporting it honestly.
