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Think twice before stuffing your suitcase with prosciutto
usatoday.com — Jamie offered to eat the illicit ham on the spot, but the official was having none of it: "Can't I just eat a couple pieces of it now?" she asked. "I really can't let you do that," he replied.
DermDoc- 678 diggs
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- SeaweedWater, on 05/04/2008, -16/+35Freedom isn't free.
- SubaruPowah, on 05/04/2008, -11/+9It'll cost you a buck'o five.
- igyigyigy, on 05/04/2008, -3/+12It takes folks like you and me.
- KingGorilla, on 05/05/2008, -0/+2And if we don't all chip in
We'll never pay that bill
- KingGorilla, on 05/05/2008, -0/+2And if we don't all chip in
- consonance, on 05/04/2008, -7/+4It costs a buck 'o five.
- pablo0713, on 05/04/2008, -8/+3It takes folks like you and me.
- Wartz, on 05/05/2008, -1/+2It cost me a buck 'o five.
- elnerdo, on 05/05/2008, -4/+2Why are you up-in-arms about this? It's no big deal, really. Customs rules are totally sensible. It's not a 'freedom' issue at all.
- credence, on 05/04/2008, -16/+147I just want to thank US Customs for defending our nation from terrorist swine.
- ronsanto, on 05/04/2008, -4/+23a boring submission has been saved by your brilliant pun
- oxdeltaxo, on 05/04/2008, -2/+5So what if we take a plane to another North American country then just drive over the border with the contraband?
- credence, on 05/04/2008, -9/+2Then you really are desperate for that ham, apparently. I personally couldn't care less. I'd imagine the goal here isn't to stop all pork from entering the country, but to stop American (read: idiot) tourists from bringing home the bacon laden with unsanitary things. If you're determined to get something across the border, you can. All customs can do is make it unlikely for Joe Sixpack to do it.
- TheThirdLevel, on 05/04/2008, -2/+11I know this was unintentional but Bacon Laden is the terrorist behind the obesity epidemic.
- Schda, on 05/06/2008, -0/+1Well then you'd face customs twice, once while flying into the alternate North American country and again while driving over the border.
- credence, on 05/04/2008, -9/+2Then you really are desperate for that ham, apparently. I personally couldn't care less. I'd imagine the goal here isn't to stop all pork from entering the country, but to stop American (read: idiot) tourists from bringing home the bacon laden with unsanitary things. If you're determined to get something across the border, you can. All customs can do is make it unlikely for Joe Sixpack to do it.
- tnoy, on 05/04/2008, -1/+17You do know that regulations like this have been in place long before 9/11, right?
- credence, on 05/04/2008, -0/+4well, yes, I realize Customs wasn't established to stop terrorists from smuggling pork across the border. But what can I say, I have a thing for easy puns (especially bad ones).
- arcticblue, on 05/05/2008, -1/+4Yeah, I don't see how this is newsworth...err diggworthy. I've been flying back and forth to Japan and they make it perfectly clear that you can't bring meat to or from the States because of export regulations (just like you can't bring dirt or rocks unless they've been treated a certain way). I had to throw away a bag of beef jerkey because of this, but I didn't make a big deal about it.
- sockpuppets, on 05/04/2008, -7/+13I'd just scarf it down, what are they going to do, force ipecac down my throat?
- greenlight2001, on 05/04/2008, -6/+17No, more likely a gun...
- airwalkery2k, on 05/04/2008, -2/+15I assume they just said no so they can speed up the line. I'd hate to be the guy behind the man eating his ham. Unless he offered me a slice too.
- BlueStarr, on 05/04/2008, -1/+11everyone has his/her price....yours is ham. hehe
- GeekyGerge, on 05/04/2008, -1/+15I'd put the guy's meat in my mouth.
Oh... Wait...
- binarypower, on 05/06/2008, -0/+1Yes... yes they probably would.
- bokep, on 05/04/2008, -21/+10Go find terrorists instead of stealing people's food, jeez.
- Dacvak, on 05/04/2008, -5/+89Is it wrong of me to be completely uninterested by this story?
- UnWeave, on 05/04/2008, -4/+7No. Is it wrong for me to not be at all bothered? The majority of stuff is sensible anyway. You'd all be pissed if half your cattle caught a BSE epidemic. And possibly dead.
- Jon211, on 05/04/2008, -1/+37I agree, what we need is some sort of mechanism to allow us to show our interest or disinterest in a simple way.
Perhaps some kind of voting?- Worldchrisis, on 05/04/2008, -0/+3And if this voting system existed, I would give your comment a positive vote.
- Hobbes24, on 05/04/2008, -8/+6she's dumb for buying prosciutto anyway,
i work in a deli, and prosciutto is by far the most disgusting meat we cut. it has HUGE chunks of fat on it, and it's slimy as hell.- Zihuatanejo, on 05/04/2008, -4/+4Spoken like someone who's never tried it.
- raytibbitts, on 05/04/2008, -3/+2Jamon iberico is one of the most disgusting things I've ever pretended to like, to try to keep my in-laws off my back.
Since it didn't work, and they continue to annoy me, I no longer even try to pretend that their revolting food is in the least bit appetizing.
- selmer, on 05/04/2008, -11/+9Damn pigs...
- vacuum2440, on 05/04/2008, -8/+38im italian and no one messes with my prosciutto..that'll get you killed
- TheSabre, on 05/04/2008, -11/+106What's with all the terrorism comments? Customs aren't just "terrorist stoppers", they also make sure people entering the country adhere to the country's import laws. Meats are prohibited from passenger airline importing because the meat can carry food borne illnesses. If an outbreak happened in the US because of this, everyone would be all up in arms screaming, "Why did they let someone bring meat from another country into the US?"
- SeaweedWater, on 05/04/2008, -41/+8Shut up.
- sexypeon, on 05/05/2008, -0/+8The truth hurts.
- personfromhell, on 05/04/2008, -7/+11and we should smack those people
- foofightrs777, on 05/04/2008, -17/+3You do realize that the only person that would get sick is the traveler bring the foo in and maybe his friends/family. This has way more to do with ensuring that import duties are paid than any concern of safety.
- nicktheawesome, on 05/04/2008, -0/+13Clearly you did not read the article, nor do you understand basic concepts.
Not all food items are completely eaten. Some will go in the trash. (Do you lick the inside of the can?) Also, contamination to other things. That sick person, can make other people sick, who make other people sick. Are you really that stupid?- AzureRise, on 05/04/2008, -0/+7He is.
- nicktheawesome, on 05/04/2008, -0/+13Clearly you did not read the article, nor do you understand basic concepts.
- IAmTheGuy, on 05/04/2008, -2/+13Thank you for enlightening many diggers who are prone to mock the American government.
- sporg, on 05/04/2008, -5/+1Be quiet prole.
Isn't there a sports article somewhere you should be commenting on?
- sporg, on 05/04/2008, -5/+1Be quiet prole.
- sporg, on 05/04/2008, -7/+3What someone brings back from overseas for their own personal consumption is not likely to cause a any kind of outbreak.
You should worry more about how FDA inspections are carried out on the food in your local grocery store. Much of that food is grown in third world countries with very little regulation on the types of pesticides or fertilizers used. Food is imported from all over the world in massive quantities daily, do you really believe that the majority of it is "inspected" before it makes it way to your home? Learn to use Google people.
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2007 ...
http://www.jimhightower.com/node/6122
- SeaweedWater, on 05/04/2008, -41/+8Shut up.
- agentshiro, on 05/04/2008, -3/+5Or your pants with a sock.
- Jovensdesciple, on 05/04/2008, -26/+6Diggers should think twice before stuffing Obama's balls in their mouths. Mmm, suck on those chocolate salty balls.
- Hefelumpman, on 05/04/2008, -3/+9Dude, he's not Chef. I bet you think they all look the same.
Racist.- imacbook, on 05/04/2008, -8/+3Well I haven't seen any differences yet.
- DeathJux, on 05/04/2008, -1/+3Wow, flashback to the 90s, when Barney Ate My Balls ruled the Intertron. What a glorious time it was to be alive.
- Hefelumpman, on 05/04/2008, -3/+9Dude, he's not Chef. I bet you think they all look the same.
- yellowfish04, on 05/04/2008, -7/+16Isn't this common knowledge by now? That you can't bring meat or any food products onto a flight? In other news, famed SNL comedian Chris Farley has died of an overdose and the U.S. boycotts Olympics in the Soviet Union
- rficwizard, on 05/04/2008, -3/+18One of the few necessary government programs (in my opinion) is Customs. They are trying to protect the US food supply from disease. That is a good thing (even when they take away my food, as they did in November). I wish that they didn't have to waste so many resources on detecting drugs, so that they could concentrate on this sort of thing. The easiest thing to do is avoid bringing food into the US. If you just have to bring in food, declare it. It will cost you a few minutes, and maybe your food, but it will save you from getting a big fine. In this one specific case, these guys are actually trying to do the right thing.
- eean, on 05/04/2008, -7/+16I don't get why it's OK to bring a ship full of fruit, but not an apple you just want to eat while waiting for your next flight at LAX.
- SeaweedWater, on 05/04/2008, -12/+59/11
- lolwutpear, on 05/04/2008, -3/+4Well said, Rudy
- PueSi, on 05/04/2008, -2/+13They inspect and regulate the apples being shipped, they have no idea where your apple comes from etc.
- sporg, on 05/04/2008, -4/+12If by "inspect and regulate" you mean giving the huge corporate importer the nod without even glancing at the docket then yes I guess your right.
- RevoFM, on 05/04/2008, -4/+1Someone needs to make a .gif of that.
- emiles, on 05/05/2008, -1/+6Yes, this is definitely a conspiracy against the mom & pop apple import businesses in the US.
- PueSi, on 05/04/2008, -1/+2Well i mean in theory.
- sporg, on 05/04/2008, -4/+12If by "inspect and regulate" you mean giving the huge corporate importer the nod without even glancing at the docket then yes I guess your right.
- SeaweedWater, on 05/04/2008, -12/+59/11
- sakkio, on 05/04/2008, -6/+0Nowadays I usually get my jamon serrano from http://www.tienda.com/jamon/index.html . Every time I have brought it in my suitcase from overseas I have had my bags sniffed by a dog from the department of agriculture and not once have they found it. It is just a matter of packing it really, really well.
- TheSabre, on 05/05/2008, -0/+1Buried simply for thinking there are USDA dogs that sniff your suitcases for food.
- Sengwad, on 05/04/2008, -5/+10Being an italian-american this pains me, seriously, prosciutto is like gold pork butter. I had a similar story and it was on a domestic flight. My grandmother made me take food with me from the family picnic I was at. At the xray machine the guy stopped me, pulled out my bag and said "umm, what's this?" It was a few containers (apparently they were 4 oz, not 3.5) of homemade pesto. I said "umm, it's pesto." He said liquids weren't allowed, and I went into great detail about how someone went through a great deal of trouble to make that pesto. To his credit he was very apologetic but refuse to let me take it through. I told him I understand, but that if he was going to keep it, that someone should take it and eat it, It's Nana's pesto, and god rest her soul, the last thing she would want to see is food going to waste. I bet it went right in the trash, what a shame.
- TheSabre, on 05/05/2008, -0/+4You should have just checked the bag. I brought home a 700 ml bottle of Ouzo from Mykonos, Greece in my checked luggage without a single issue. All these liquid rules are for carry-on and quite frankly, pesto isn't one of those things that you just have to have in your carry on.
- pazimzadeh, on 05/04/2008, -10/+4This is what you do:
1- vacuum seal the food
2- wrap it in gift wrapping paper
3- buy some fresh garlic (only works in the spring)
4- place both in the suitcase
5- the dogs will smell the garlic but nothing else
6- you get your ham and cheese for the price of ham and cheese + fresh garlic
That worked for my grandma...- JohnFlux, on 05/04/2008, -5/+10Oh, well, as long as your grandma gets her sandwich, who cares about preventing diseases from spreading.
- identitymatrix, on 05/04/2008, -6/+3I find it really sad that the TSA goes to great lengths to implement all these security measures to stop terrorism, when in reality anyone and their grand mother can work around it with a little thinking. In the end the policies just inconvenience everyone and their only purpose is to provide a false sense of security.
- sgtpppr, on 05/05/2008, -2/+4I find it even more sad you are using an anecdote from some random screen name on digg as your base argument for ending airport security.
- identitymatrix, on 05/05/2008, -0/+1I try to base all my arguments off random comments on digg.
"If it's on the internet, it must be true!"
-some random digg comment
- identitymatrix, on 05/05/2008, -0/+1I try to base all my arguments off random comments on digg.
- sgtpppr, on 05/05/2008, -2/+4I find it even more sad you are using an anecdote from some random screen name on digg as your base argument for ending airport security.
- spudnic, on 05/05/2008, -0/+2A dog's sense of smell doesn't work like that, one strong smell doesn't mask another, they smell both.
- partysan, on 05/05/2008, -0/+1I have carried cured pork into Canada from Europe. The dogs sniff on your bag without missing a beat, and don't give a ***** that there's meat in the bag.
- doomchronage, on 05/04/2008, -6/+4prosciutto..nom nom nom nom
- tnoy, on 05/04/2008, -2/+23My sister was prevented from bringing some proscuitto and some pepperoni from Italy home for me. Customs wouldn't allow it.
Oh, and it was in 1995. This has nothing to do with 9/11 and nothing to do with terrorists. - al1encas1no, on 05/04/2008, -3/+6FTA: And if you do try to sneak something past, chances are it won't be the most shocking item officials have seen. For Maurine Bell, port veterinarian at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport during the 1990s, that would be the whole goat she once found stuffed in a passenger's luggage. "The gentleman was from Greece and he was bringing it in for his daughter's wedding," she said.
Are Greek goats better than American goats or something? Gamier? A more natural smoky flavor?- TheSabre, on 05/05/2008, -0/+8No, it was just an arranged marriage. They knew the goat. You can't have your daughter marrying an American goat you never met before.
- jolie311, on 05/28/2008, -0/+1Was it alive?
- BlueStarr, on 05/04/2008, -4/+3You know the guard and his buddies are going to have a nice lunch for the next couple days. lol
- Seth024, on 05/04/2008, -1/+2For most European flights (not sure about USA). You can only have 100ml of liquids with you. So no big shampoo bottles, no soda... You can't even bring an empty 1l water bottle because 1l > 100ml, even if it's empty. (not making this up)
- bethehammer, on 05/04/2008, -6/+1Its really easy - just don't tell them. The chances of customs scanning and then checking your bags (carry-ons excluded) are very low so next time just don't tell then and then if your are caught then blame it on jet lag or just tell them you don't really care about their silly rules and just want to go home
- raytibbitts, on 05/04/2008, -0/+5Have fun when you miss your connecting flight because you just happen to get searched, and they hold you up, to ask you questions, specifically about why you are a liar. It really sucks, especially when the next flight isn't until the next morning.
- Nerys, on 05/05/2008, -0/+1When its something that is a technical matter and not an "immediate" danger forgiveness is always easier than permission. If you get caught Sorry I did not know I could not bring this. Its that simple they take it maybe search your stuff more thoroughly and your on your way.
Either way I always "follow" those rules because they ARE logical. They "DO" serve a VALID purpose most of the time.
- Nerys, on 05/05/2008, -0/+1When its something that is a technical matter and not an "immediate" danger forgiveness is always easier than permission. If you get caught Sorry I did not know I could not bring this. Its that simple they take it maybe search your stuff more thoroughly and your on your way.
- raytibbitts, on 05/04/2008, -0/+5Have fun when you miss your connecting flight because you just happen to get searched, and they hold you up, to ask you questions, specifically about why you are a liar. It really sucks, especially when the next flight isn't until the next morning.
- JohnnyHotballs, on 05/04/2008, -2/+2snap into a slim jim, instead....it's the macho thing to do.
http://www.retrojunk.com/details_commercial/409/ - WhoDoneIt, on 05/04/2008, -3/+1I was kinda hoping they wouldn't allow me to bring my wife across the border when we were going to Vegas, but my luck ran out before I hit the slots.
- Cornrider, on 05/04/2008, -5/+1Stick it up your brownie tunnel and make sure it doesn't melt
- AlexanderZero, on 05/04/2008, -3/+13Buried, any intelligent person knows you don't try to import food from other countries on airplanes.
- djcreamy, on 05/04/2008, -1/+3Thanks for bringing a goat to my wedding, Dad.
- Hindu_Wardrobe, on 05/04/2008, -2/+5Mmmmm... prosciutto...
- Hindu_Wardrobe, on 05/04/2008, -2/+4I can't blame him for trying to bring it. Iberian ham is amazing.
- jeehalte, on 05/04/2008, -0/+5can i get a no *****?
- kingvik, on 05/05/2008, -0/+2No *****!
- aserer511, on 05/05/2008, -0/+2"Then I slipped her teh sausage."
- ryanhayn, on 05/05/2008, -7/+2I hate people. Food is food, and humans are humans. Who cares where they are in the world?
- TheSabre, on 05/05/2008, -0/+3Well, next time you're in Zimbabwe, go eat some chicken that's been sitting out in the 130 degree heat for a day. Then tell me that all food is food.
- tehbored, on 05/05/2008, -3/+2I have a feeling most of these regulations serve no purpose whatsoever.
- mooseontheloose, on 05/05/2008, -5/+3Seriously, what's wrong with this country? Apparently we think that all other countries are suffering from deadly beef epidemics. Funny, Italy seems to be doing OK.
But then again, who cares? To all you ignorant fat bastards it's the quantity of food going down your large gullets that matters, not the quality. - boottrax, on 05/05/2008, -0/+3Actually this happens a lot. You can't bring mainland fruit to Hawaii for fruit fly control. Back during the hoof and mouth catastrophe in Britain, you had to declare if you had contact with animals there when you re-entered the states.
Stuff like this is necessary to contain disease and epidemics. We don't really live in a homogeneous world.
I've traveled quite often to Europe and Asia and am familiar with the rules before I leave. Usually "hardened" foods like pasta or hard cheese like parmesian regianno is fine.
There are domestic importers that can get the foods however. - adrianmonk, on 05/05/2008, -0/+3Is that a prosciutto in your suitcase, or are you just glad to see me?
- antonio97b, on 05/05/2008, -1/+1I don't know why I laughed. Maybe just because it was so absurd.
- DaviDTC, on 05/05/2008, -0/+3Reminds me of the guy trying to bring a bottle of vodka on a plane and they told him he couldnt. So what does he do, he downs the entire thing waiting while waiting in line.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22219861/ - stray, on 05/05/2008, -0/+2Thank god the TSA is there to protect us from dangerous but delicious meat!
- Anomaly427, on 05/05/2008, -0/+3From the comments here it seems many diggers don't travel overseas that much... This stuff is Travel 101, people.
- randf, on 05/05/2008, -0/+1they skipped travel 101 so they could take advanced placement Sport Bitching
- nosecohn, on 05/05/2008, -1/+1I had nearly the same thing happen to me coming back from Spain. US Customs has a list of products that are allowed in. I brought in a variation of one of the allowed types of ham, but because that particular variation wasn't on the list, I had to throw it away. Big bummer, as it was a gift for a Spanish friend living in the US. The best way to avoid this is to buy your products at the airport just as you're coming back. The prices are higher and the selection lower, but the airport shops keep up on what's allowed into which destination country.
- Nerys, on 05/05/2008, -0/+1Or drum roll :-) Ship it home :-) hehe
- jsmjr, on 05/05/2008, -0/+0Shipping is a better idea. The airport shops actually lie to you about being able to carry stuff home. (It's not like the clerks or even the buying agents are tracking every country's importation rules
- Nerys, on 05/05/2008, -0/+1Or drum roll :-) Ship it home :-) hehe
- daemonx, on 05/05/2008, -0/+1One of the comments on the site
Customs agent says " is that a sausage you're trying to smuggle in, or are you just glad to see me "? - pennvneff, on 05/05/2008, -0/+2Jamon Iberico is one of the greatest things ever made
- yojic, on 05/05/2008, -0/+0fascinating
- Nerys, on 05/05/2008, -0/+1When he said I am sorry I can't let you eat a piece of it I am seriously curious as to WHAT he would do about it if they just took a bite anyway and even if there was any law against doing so? IE what law would they be breaking?
- captric, on 05/05/2008, -0/+1Is there actually anyone who does not know you cant bring back meat in your suitcase?!
- elTito, on 05/05/2008, -0/+1Meh. I got a prosciutto through customs last year coming back from Rome. I understand why they won't let this stuff in, but I also think that foods coming from EU countries should be looked upon a bit less harshly than foods coming in from, say, Zambia or some such place.
Back to my prosciutto...problem was, the guy I bought it from didn't speak any English, I didn't speak (or read) any Italian, and apparently I bought the one that needed to stay refrigerated.
When I opened the shrink wrap I almost threw up. God damn was I pissed, lol. - dstz, on 05/05/2008, -0/+1"I had to throw away a bag of beef jerkey because of this, but I didn't make a big deal about it."
We were talking about food, not shoes. - capellathestar, on 05/05/2008, -0/+1He should have stuffed it up his butt.
- dextroz, on 05/05/2008, -0/+1Does anyone ever friggin read the last comment?!
- tinybitesdotca, on 05/09/2008, -0/+0If I had ponied up the cash for jamon iberico, I'd have asked to eat it at Customs too. Luckily, the powers that be have green-lighted the distribution of jamon iberico into Canada. Bought $10 worth (ie, 4 super-thin slices) in Vancouver last week. Yum yum yum.
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