Going into Canada – Food?

We are leaving for Canada on Friday. Staying at Halinshead Outfitters north of Thunder Bay. Hoping someone can provide guidance on what we can bring across the border for food/groceries. Can you take beef steaks across? How about frozen hot beef made for sandwiches? Lasanga? I’ve never had issues bringing groceries across in prior years but it has been a long time. One of the guys going with us sent info that anything with meat is pretty much not allowed. It this true? Thanks a bunch for any info.

U think you can bring any food. In late August we brought meat, vegetables, potatoes, bread, other stuff.

https://inspection.canada.ca/food-safety-for-consumers/travellers/eng/1389630031549/1389630282362

Thanks Tim and b-man. This crap is still confusing. The way it reads to me is you can’t bring baked goods containing meat. No chili lasagna or hot beef. But burger and steaks or other raw meat is good?

bzzsaw wrote:

Thanks Tim and b-man. This crap is still confusing. The way it reads to me is you can’t bring baked goods containing meat. No chili lasagna or hot beef. But burger and steaks or other raw meat is good?

That seems backwards. Raw meat is usually a issue and cooked isn’t

Only time I had a issues was crossing back into Minnesota. After saying I had no produce with they found a banana in my lunch box. Got detained and had to wait for the produce inspector to go through all my stuff.

I can recall a few years ago they prohibited the entry of eggs because there was an outbreak of avian flu here in the states. I didn’t look at B-man’s link to confirm if that rule is still in effect.

My Father’s group of 10 goes through a lot of eggs while they are there for a week so they had to buy eggs once they got into Canada which was about 4 times the cost.

Here is the info from B-man’s link I think applies. Sorry the formatting didn’t copy over from the link.

__________

Products allowed into Canada from the United States
Note
Some items do need documents to accompany them.

Animal fat or suet
Up to 20 kilograms per person

Baked goods, candies, etc.
No goods containing meat
Up to 20 kilograms per person

Coniferous wreaths and Christmas trees
Refer to AIRS

Dairy products (for example: cheese, milk, yogurt, butter)
Up to 20 kilograms per person
Over $20.00 may be subject to high rates of duty

Fish and seafood
All species except pufferfish and Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis)
When importing a susceptible species of aquatic animal, an import permit will not be required when importing individual maximums of each of the following commodities of aquatic animals:

10 dead finfish that are not eviscerated
4 crustaceans with head on shell on
3 kilograms of molluscs
Import permits are required for all live susceptible species of finfish and for amounts of crustaceans and molluscs greater than the limits listed above.

Flowers: cut
Refer to AIRS
Check out the Directive D-14-03: Phytosanitary import requirements for fresh and dried branches, cut flowers and other plant parts for ornamental purposes

Fruits and vegetables
Dried (including herbs)
Up to 15 packages per person (but not more than 250 kilograms)
Fresh
1 bag up to 4 kilograms of US No. 1 potatoes per person and the bag must be commercially packaged
15 packages or less up to 250 kilograms of fresh fruits and vegetables per person (excluding potatoes)
Must be free from soil, pests, leaves, branches and plant debris
Check out the Plant Protection Policy Directives – Horticulture for more information
Frozen or canned (including herbs)
Fruits
Up to 15 frozen packages or 15 cans per person (but not more than 250 kilograms)
Vegetables
Up to 20 kilograms of frozen or chilled vegetables per person

Game animal carcasses
With a hunter’s permit or a licence
Provincial restrictions may apply. For example, on deer, there may be restrictions due to chronic wasting disease.

Infant formula
Up to a maximum of 20 kilograms per person (commercially packaged)
Milk based or non-milk based, (dry/liquid) formula
For personal use only
Sealed
Leather goods and skins
Fully tanned hides and skins only

Meat and poultry products (for example, jerky, sausages, deli meats and patties, foie gras)
Up to 20 kilograms per person
Packages must have identifying marks, indicating what the product is
Proof of country of origin may be required

Meat and poultry: fresh, frozen and chilled
Up to 20 kilograms per person
1 turkey per person
Packages must have identifying marks, indicating what the product is
Proof of country of origin may be required
Note
Within this limit on meat, the CBSA may have specific requirements.

Plants and plant parts for planting
Refer to AIRS
Check out the Directive D-08-04: Plant protection import requirements for plants and plant parts for planting
Sea shells and sand
Sea shells and items made from them
Small quantities of sand from salt-water beaches
Must be free from all animal matter, soil, soil-related matter and plant debris
Spices, tea, coffee, condiments
Entry permitted
Wooden souvenirs
Must be free of bark, insects or evidence of insect activity

Huh. We went two years ago and packed whatever we wanted for food. And this was for a 10 person group for 5 days.

Only thing we paid attention to was alcohol and tobacco

lindyrig79 wrote:

Huh. We went two years ago and packed whatever we wanted for food. And this was for a 10 person group for 5 days.

Only thing we paid attention to was alcohol and tobacco

Same thing for me every time I’ve crossed the boarder at Baudette or IFalls, probably close to 20 times in the last 6 or 7 years. Only thing they’ve ever asked about have been alcohol, tobacco, guns, knives, and bear mace. Have never been pulled aside for further questioning or search either.

Just Got back a week ago. We have never had a issue with anything we have brought. We bring. Meat ( both cooked and Uncooked ) Milk, eggs. bread, Ect. I guess I was never aware of any restrictions. The only thing they ask about is liquor. 1 Qt. or 1 case of beer each is what I believe is allowed. Bring your max. you dont want to but beer there. I believe we paid like 50-60 $ for a 12 pack. Its crazy expensive. The funny thing the cheap US beer is the most there.

fishthumper wrote:

Just Got back a week ago. We have never had a issue with anything we have brought. We bring. Meat ( both cooked and Uncooked ) Milk, eggs. bread, Ect. I guess I was never aware of any restrictions. The only thing they ask about is liquor. 1 Qt. or 1 case of beer each is what I believe is allowed. Bring your max. you dont want to but beer there. I believe we paid like 50-60 $ for a 12 pack. Its crazy expensive. The funny thing the cheap US beer is the most there.

$50 to $60 for a 12pk? Im assuming that was not at The Beer Store, their advertised prices are less than that for cases (of the more common beers up there). I only checked becasue I would have been surprised to see the price of beer double in the past 2 years, I wasnt aware of any shortages like lumber

Stupid Canadian Liquor prices…
https://www.tiendeo.ca/Catalogues/thunder-bay/283874?view=recommender&buscar=lcbo&pos=0&refPageType=STORES&pagina=5&modelName=SmartCampaigns_v1

Dang. Captain Morgan Rum is 43.00 for 1100 ML. A 1.75 handle (1750 ML) is about half that at Sams Club in the US. Looks like I may have to break open my piggy bank.

blank wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>lindyrig79 wrote:</div>
Huh. We went two years ago and packed whatever we wanted for food. And this was for a 10 person group for 5 days.

Only thing we paid attention to was alcohol and tobacco

Same thing for me every time I’ve crossed the boarder at Baudette or IFalls, probably close to 20 times in the last 6 or 7 years. Only thing they’ve ever asked about have been alcohol, tobacco, guns, knives, and bear mace. Have never been pulled aside for further questioning or search either.

Ditto for me for the last few years and this August too. Headed up tomorrow morning again and bringing burgers, brats, sausages, eggs, hashbrowns

lindyrig79 wrote:

Huh. We went two years ago and packed whatever we wanted for food. And this was for a 10 person group for 5 days.

Only thing we paid attention to was alcohol and tobacco

Yeah, typically they don’t ask cause 40 lbs per person is a lot and unless you have a trailer full of coolers, I’d think you are okay

We’ve been asked about eggs and pork before (not always) but that was about it.

Canola oil
Breading
Eggs
Bacon
Bread
Butter
Beer