What Gets You Fined at U.S. Customs (And How to Avoid It)

Green paper containers filled with raspberries, blackberries, cherries, and strawberries on a red tablecloth — Fruit is a hydrating, healthy plane snack, but be sure to finish it before your flight lands in the U.S.

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This article was originally published in 2018 and most recently updated on July 8, 2026, with current information.

Culinary souvenirs are one of the most delicious ways to remember your trip, and many foods are allowed through U.S. customs. But if your bag is randomly searched by a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer who discovers food that isn’t allowed or food that is but hasn’t been declared, you could face a $300 fine. Below is everything you need to know about what will—and won’t—get you a fine at U.S. customs, how to declare what you’ve brought back, and how to carry prescription medication and large sums of cash into the U.S.

What food items are and aren’t allowed through U.S. customs?

All agricultural items need to be declared to U.S. customs. This includes food, seeds, and even handicrafts made of straw. Many food items are always allowed through U.S. customs but still need to be declared. Others are not allowed through, but if you realize you have an apple in your bag, don’t panic. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service says, “As long as you declare all of the agricultural products you are bringing with you, you will not face any penalties—even if an inspector determines that they cannot enter the country.”

The fine for not declaring agricultural items at U.S. customs is $300 the first time and $500 the second.

These food items are allowed through U.S. customs:

Condiments
Vinegars
Oils
Packaged spices (sealed)
Honey
Coffee
Tea
All dry snacks such as crackers, cookies, chips, etc
Candy
Baked goods
Butter
Solid hard or soft cheeses (you can bring almost any cheese through U.S. customs except those that contain meat or have liquid, like ricotta)
Seafood

These food items are never allowed through U.S. customs; if you have them, make sure you declare them:

Fruits
Vegetables
Plants
Seeds
Meat and anything containing meat products, including soup mix and bouillon cubes

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, “almost all fresh fruits and vegetables (whole or cut) are prohibited from entering the United States because of the potential pest and disease risks . . . This includes fresh fruits or vegetables given to you on your airplane or cruise ship.” A detailed list covers what foods are and aren’t allowed into the U.S.

There are some exceptions. Travelers coming from Canada by land can bring most foods, including fruits and vegetables. People coming from Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands to the contiguous U.S. and Alaska should consult a long list of what is and isn’t allowed through customs, and the same goes for travelers flying from Alaska and Hawaiʻi to the lower 48 states. Hawaiʻi prohibits travelers from bringing in some fruits and vegetables from the mainland.

How do I declare food when flying back to the U.S.?

Travelers enrolled in Global Entry who use the app can declare anything they bring in, including permitted foods. Travelers who prefer to go directly to the facial recognition Global Entry kiosks can then tell the officer on the way out if they have anything to declare.

If you’re not enrolled in Global Entry, you can use the Mobile Passport app, which has a section for declarations. If you don’t want to use any apps, you can simply tell the person at immigration who checks your passport; that person may ask, “Do you have anything to declare?”

What happens if you don’t declare something at customs?

You may receive a warning or you may be fined $300 for not declaring food items; it’s entirely at the discretion of CBP. There are many foods you can bring into the U.S., but you must declare every food item you’re carrying. Not declaring an item is what gets you in trouble.

In addition to being fined, you could lose Global Entry over an undeclared item or food. A CBP spokesperson told Afar, “If a traveler with Global Entry fails to declare required items, their Global Entry membership may be revoked. Participation in Trusted Traveler Programs is a privilege, and violations of U.S. customs laws—including failure to declare items—can result in suspension or termination of membership.”

Note that if you don’t have Global Entry and you receive a warning or a fine for not declaring something, and then later apply for Global Entry, the interviewer may ask about this incident.

If you forget to declare something and receive a warning or fine, you may find yourself going through an additional customs screening the next time you fly back to the U.S. The CBP spokesperson added, “All travelers, including Global Entry members, may be subject to secondary customs screenings at the discretion of CBP.”

Tired as you may be after landing in the U.S. after an international flight, it’s important to double-check your bags one last time before deplaning to make sure you didn’t miss any fruit, for example. You can always give it to the cabin crew.

Can you bring prescription medication through customs?

As a U.S. citizen, you do not need to declare your own prescription medication when going through customs. Non–U.S. citizens should have no more than a 90-day supply of any medication, ideally in its original prescription container. If you don’t have the container, bring a prescription or doctor’s note in English. If you’re a non–U.S. citizen and need to bring a prescription for medicine that isn’t legal in the U.S., see CBP’s site for what to do.

How much cash can you bring into the U.S. without declaring it?

You can bring up to $10,000 into the U.S. without declaring it. CBP says that failure to declare if you’re carrying more than 10 grand can result in a fine of up to $500,000.

What is the customs duty-free allowance?

According to CBP, you can bring in one American liter (33.8 fl. oz or 1,000 ml) of alcohol per person.

What else is not allowed through U.S. customs?

A woman stands in front of a souvenir stand in Medellin, Colombia, selling straw hats, bags, and sunglasses — Souvenirs made from straw, like sombreros and bags, must be declared to U.S. customs.

Art and cultural treasures

According to CBP, most pre-Columbian sculptures or murals from Central or South American countries are not permitted. The same goes for terra-cotta statues from Mali, Khmer sculptures from Cambodia, and Indigenous Peoples artifacts from Canada.

Handicrafts and plant-derived products

Be sure to declare the pretty straw hat you picked up in Medellin, as CBP says, “Every single plant or plant product including handicraft items made with straw” must also be declared to an officer to ensure they are free from pests.

Sophie Friedman

Sophie Friedman is a journalist, editor, and fact-checker based in Paris and the South of France. Prior to contributing to Afar, she oversaw Michelin Guide’s site and print guidebooks. She has worked on a dozen guidebooks for Fodor’s, covering destinations such as Egypt, Myanmar, and China. Her writing and photos have appeared in the Wall Street Journal, Travel + Leisure, The Infatuation, Roadbook, and more. Her favorite ways to move around are by train and bike, and she always carries something to read.