Are you wondering what food you can’t bring to China?
Compared to some countries that have strict quarantine rules, China is fairly lax when it comes to the food you shouldn’t bring with you.
But there are still some food products you shouldn’t take along. Most of them are fresh and raw foods – common sense kind of things.
So, what food should you not bring to China?
Don’t bring these foods to China
These are the main culprits:
- Animal products including meat and seafood
- Fresh fruits and vegetables
- Dairy including fresh milk, eggs, cheese, butter and cream
- Fats and oils
If you happen to have any of these prohibited food items with you, just dump them in the quarantine bins at the airport.
This includes any fresh food you haven’t eaten on the plane, which you may have slipped into your carry bag.
Other harmful foods
In addition, you shouldn’t bring any food that is considered harmful, comes from an epidemic-stricken area, or might spread disease.
This rule is quite arbitrary like many rules in China. So, just try to use common sense with this one.
Information about meat
Avoid bringing your favorite cold cuts of meat. Image by Ilo on Pixabay.
China’s ban on animal products is quite broad, and includes meat products.
This rule is really in place to prevent people from bringing raw meat (like animal carcasses) into China, which can contain harmful bacteria and cause illness in humans.
The Chinese government doesn’t want this kind of food coming in.
Hypothetically, if there was a packet of store-bought, unopened beef jerky in your checked bagged that you accidentally forgot about (wink, wink), you should be fine.
Just keep in mind that the animal product rule exists.
I’ve actually written a separate short article about bringing meat into China for more on this.
Avoid bringing these foods
Seeds may need pre-approval, which would be a hassle. Image by Şahin Sezer Dinçer on Pixabay.
Unless you have a special reason to bring the following items, I’d advise against it unless you’re looking for a discussion with the Chinese authorities.
Being stuck in the airport after a long-haul flight is not a nice way to start your China vacay!
- Seeds
- Grains and cereals
- Dried fruits
- Dried, pickled and frozen vegetables
- Beans
Some of these foods require pre-entry quarantine approval, so check with your airline if you really must bring it in.
It’s important to note that airport quarantine rules are constantly changing. So remember the saying, “If in doubt, throw it out”.
I find it much less stressful just eating the food served on the plane and leaving anything uneaten on board.
While I can understand that some people have food allergies and may want to bring their own special things, I can never understand why others try to bring a feast with them.
You can get everything you need in China.
What food can you bring to China?
Processed snack food is fine to take to China. Image by Hans from Pixabay.
If you’re wondering what food you can take into China, there are three general things to remember.
The food should:
- Be processed or packaged
- Be a small amount for personal use
- Not be one of the prohibited items listed above.
The only foods I ever bring into China are highly processed foods like muesli bars, nuts, potato chips and chocolate. There are no issues with these sorts of things.
Gray areas
Canned fish is an animal product, but there may not be an issue with it. Image by Squirrel_photos on Pixabay.
China is the land of gray (grey) areas.
I remember on one trip to central China, my taxi driver ran a red light. I asked him about it, and he said in a very matter-of-fact way, “China has guidelines, not rules”.
I’ve loved this saying ever since!
In China, it’s all about the way a rule is interpreted. One day, it can mean something in particular, while the next day it can mean something totally different.
With regard to the food you can take to China, there are a few gray areas.
For example, something like a can of tuna is technically an animal product, i.e. prohibited.
However, canned tuna is clearly processed, unopened, and isn’t disease carrying – which is essentially what Chinese Customs is looking for.
So, bringing in a can of tuna in your checked luggage probably won’t raise any alarms.
I personally wouldn’t take the risk though.
A little story to explain: A couple of years ago I was flying out of Guangzhou Airport. I’d bought a really cool game for my nephew in Europe a few weeks earlier.
The game consisted of 20 plastic ping pong balls and a small plastic basketball hoop.
There was a major drama while my carry-on bag was going through the security check. The staff removed the game from my bag, and advised that I couldn’t bring most of it on board.
Apparently plastic ping pong balls are a flammable risk, but a plastic basketball hoop isn’t!
I was really annoyed – I thought it was such rubbish. But as I’d already checked in my suitcase, there was nothing I could do but relinquish my balls, so to speak.
The point I’m trying to make is rules in China, including those at Chinese airports, are sometimes arbitrary.
The one thing you should do before you head to China
Okay, I know this blog is about the food you shouldn’t take to China.
But if I can leave you with just one more tip, it’s this: make sure you download some helpful travel apps before you go to China.
In particular, a VPN app is critical if you want to use Western websites and social media while using hotel Wi-Fi.
I can’t imagine going without sites and apps like YouTube, Google, Gmail, Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp while traveling. Can you?
Refer to my article on the best China VPN or tap on the button below for the one I recommend most:
Just remember to download it before you arrive, otherwise you’ll be stuck!
Recap of the food you can’t take into China
Avoid bringing any animal products, dairy, fruit or vegetables. These are the main culprits.
If in doubt, throw it out.
Have a great time in China – you’re going to have a blast!
Let me know in the comments below if you have any questions, otherwise have a read of the article I wrote about traveling in China without speaking Chinese. I think you’ll find it useful.
More helpful articles
- What to bring to China
- What not to bring to China
- Can I bring cheese into China?
- Can I bring bak kwa into China?
Main image credit: Manfred Richter on Pixabay.
FAQ about bringing food into China
Can I bring food to China?
Yes, but it depends on the kind of food. Meat, seafood, dairy, fruit and vegetables are generally not allowed.
Can I bring milk powder to China?
Yes, you can bring a reasonable amount with you (i.e. two cans).
Can I bring biscuits to China?
Yes, you can bring biscuits to China.
Can I bring sauce to China?
Generally, yes you can.
