French Customs checks

[Portland]

We are passing through the tunnel in November and wonder if the Customs check on foods you have in the motor. Obviously we don't want to stock up only to have to throw it away.
Our Problem is that I'm Celiac and carry many GF products plus the boss thinks we are a mobile Tesco hyper market.

 

[Tonks]

There have been several threads on this. Lots of folk (the majority?) haven't had a single check. Others have. There was also a TV programme where a family bringing dairy products into the EU were heavily fined - though they didn't help themselves by lying about what they were carrying.
As well as risking losing the produce, you also risk being fined. And searched on future trips.
I would think that many if not all GF foods will fall within food types that you're permitted to take so I don't see too much of a problem for you.
Personally, I'd stock up on stuff which is legal to carry, and stop in France to buy dairy/meat products.

 

[Richard n Ann]

We took bacon. They aren't interested in what you have in your fridge for your own consumption. If you have a garage full to sell on when you get there that's different. My advice is take what you want within reason

 

[VXman]

We were hauled into customs last week on our way out of the country but there was zero interest in the fridge or food. Just a quick look in the boot/garage and a mirror under the van. Did breathe a sigh of relief as the fridge had a lot leftovers from our fridge at home in it.

 

[Puddleduck]

I am also coeliac and am able to take as much sealed specialist food (within reason) as I wish - even into the USA but for the USA it has to be arranged in advance via the embassy. I just had to send a standard form which the hospital office stamped for me. Airlines will sometimes give extra baggage allowance for the food.

Coeliac UK might be your best place to find initial advice - otherwise a call to the French Embassy, Eurotunnel or the ferry company who will be aware of the rules.

I've never had an issue finding gf food in Europe and the Schlar brand is common. In Portugal even the tiny backstreet shops had a small gf section and in northern Spain even the ice cream vendors had "sans gluten" noted on their menu boards.

This might also help you:

Gluten Free Restaurant Cards for Celiacs / Coeliacs

Celiac Travel.com's gluten free travel cards for restaurants.

www.celiactravel.com

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[Oscar]

We came through the Tunnel almost 3 weeks ago, as a Coeliac we can understand your concerns. We brought with us a couple of weeks supply of GF bread/biscuits/crackers and a bit of food in our fridge/freezer. We worked on the theory that if we got it confiscated then so be it, so didn't bring nearly as much as we have done in the past, and it was packed/stored in cupboards and the fridge, so was easily visible.

GF is available in the larger supermarkets in France, not seen any evidence of it in Lidl or Aldi. We haven't found a problem getting supplies.

 

[Jo662]

We took bacon, sausages eggs and milk to name just a few bits, on our recent French trip and didn't have any one check what we had. Just take what you need and you would be unlucky if you had any border checks.

 

[TheTurnips]

Fill the fridge and crack on to Macon. We shipped Dover to Calais on Po a few weeks ago. Our dog has Belgium passport all good and fridge was full off the ferry in Calais and straight out the port no one there doing controls.

 

[yodeli]

Assuming GF means gluten free, I'd recommend to have a note from your doctor (can't remember now if you say MD or MP).
If you can't , then write this down on a paper: "Je suis intolérant au gluten et j'ai besoin de produits spécifiques que je ne suis pas sûr de trouver partout. Merci de votre compréhension."

That will do the job... they are not that bad when you explain, indeed.

Amicalement
Frankie

 

[Simon Meadwell]

No checks on us both ways nobody checked the fridge. Checked for immigrants and drugs though,a drug dog popped his head in the door. Also mirrors underneath the moho.

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[busby]

Not again,,,BUSBY.

 

[Oscar]

Portland - Available at Carrefour Market

 

[deleted79651]

There is to be an EU announcement on Wednesday next week about the Northern Ireland protocol, and the wording of the Press articles seem to suggest that the import of meat and dairy products by individuals may be part of the revision. It would explain why no Funsters have reported any of these checks after the infamous Ham sandwich/roll confiscation by the Dutch Border Officials at the turn of the year [could also relate to pressure on Border Officers to keep the Arrivals and Departures queues moving...]

Steve

 

[busby]

There is to be an EU announcement on Wednesday next week about the Northern Ireland protocol, and the wording of the Press articles seem to suggest that the import of meat and dairy products by individuals may be part of the revision. It would explain why no Funsters have reported any of these checks after the infamous Ham sandwich/roll confiscation by the Dutch Border Officials at the turn of the year [could also relate to pressure on Border Officers to keep the Arrivals and Departures queues moving...]

Steve

That confiscation was a friendly joke between a regular driver to Holland and a customs guy who he knew as he passed through twice a week.Typical press.BUSBY.

 

[138go]

This is a very useful thread for me, as my granddaughter has just been diagnosed with Coeliacs and they holiday in France. They were worried about being able to get gluten free easily, so thanks for starting this thread.

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[Oscar]

This is a very useful thread for me, as my granddaughter has just been diagnosed with Coeliacs and they holiday in France. They were worried about being able to get gluten free easily, so thanks for starting this thread.

No issues getting gluten free supplies in the larger supermarkets (Leclerc, Auchan, Intermarche, Carrefour etc) don't let it stop you travelling! just need deep pockets!

 

[Jenben]

Fill the fridge and crack on to Macon

Lovely words made me smile


We weren’t stopped going out, we were checked coming back in but only to make sure no illegal immigrants were in our van.

 

[orridge]

Have been back and forth twice in two weeks and no changes apart from longer queues.

 

[Puddleduck]

This is a very useful thread for me, as my granddaughter has just been diagnosed with Coeliacs and they holiday in France. They were worried about being able to get gluten free easily, so thanks for starting this thread.

I have decades of experience of gluten-free life so any questions please just private message me Our whole house is very strictly gluten-free. Most of the larger French supermarkets have a decent gluten-free section.

I find the real issue is cross contamination when eating out but I am a super-sensitive and there is enough gluten in two bread crumbs to hospitalise me. We would normally take the van when traveling but if self catering in a villa or similar I take my own chopping boards, wooden spoons and knives. Remember it is impossible to clean gluten from wood.

Hotel holidays we just don't do unless we have written confirmation that they are aware of and can comply with the total gluten-free requirement. We do like cruises and have found Fred. Olsen are the very best when it came to gluten awareness. NCL were hopeless and clueless, P&O were okay but made an error on ourlast night and I ended up in A&E in Southampton

When I was a child my "bread" was on prescription and came in tins - often green and stinking by the evening Things are so much better now

 

[yodeli]

Assuming GF means gluten free, I'd recommend to have a note from your doctor (can't remember now if you say MD or MP).
If you can't , then write this down on a paper: "Je suis intolérant au gluten et j'ai besoin de produits spécifiques que je ne suis pas sûr de trouver partout. Merci de votre compréhension."

That will do the job... they are not that bad when you explain, indeed.

Amicalement
Frankie

EDIT : If you are a woman then, you should change "intolérant" for "intolérante"; "sûr" for "sure"

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[yodeli]

I have decades of experience of gluten-free life so any questions please just private message me Our whole house is very strictly gluten-free. Most of the larger French supermarkets have a decent gluten-free section.

I find the real issue is cross contamination when eating out but I am a super-sensitive and there is enough gluten in two bread crumbs to hospitalise me. We would normally take the van when traveling but if self catering in a villa or similar I take my own chopping boards, wooden spoons and knives. Remember it is impossible to clean gluten from wood.

Hotel holidays we just don't do unless we have written confirmation that they are aware of and can comply with the total gluten-free requirement. We do like cruises and have found Fred. Olsen are the very best when it came to gluten awareness. NCL were hopeless and clueless, P&O were okay but made an error on ourlast night and I ended up in A&E in Southampton

When I was a child my "bread" was on prescription and came in tins - often green and stinking by the evening Things are so much better now

Gluten free restaurants in Toulouse

Broken Link Removed

 

[Puddleduck]

Gluten free restaurants in Toulouse

Broken Link Removed

And now I am hungry Time for a hot chocolate with hand whipped cream!

 

[Peter and Julie]

Assuming GF means gluten free, I'd recommend to have a note from your doctor (can't remember now if you say MD or MP).
If you can't , then write this down on a paper: "Je suis intolérant au gluten et j'ai besoin de produits spécifiques que je ne suis pas sûr de trouver partout. Merci de votre compréhension."

That will do the job... they are not that bad when you explain, indeed.

Amicalement
Frankie

Will that work with gluten free sausages I wonder

 

[yodeli]

Will that work with gluten free sausages I wonder

Ok then add to the text just after partout : "en plus je suis une vraie plaie en matière de bouffe... je n'aime que les trucs qu'il ne faut pas" (But please after that bit once you've said thanks write into brakets: c'est une française qui a écrit ça... surtout le terme "plaie"!
I bet they will laugth!

 

[138go]

I have decades of experience of gluten-free life so any questions please just private message me Our whole house is very strictly gluten-free. Most of the larger French supermarkets have a decent gluten-free section.

I find the real issue is cross contamination when eating out but I am a super-sensitive and there is enough gluten in two bread crumbs to hospitalise me. We would normally take the van when traveling but if self catering in a villa or similar I take my own chopping boards, wooden spoons and knives. Remember it is impossible to clean gluten from wood.

Hotel holidays we just don't do unless we have written confirmation that they are aware of and can comply with the total gluten-free requirement. We do like cruises and have found Fred. Olsen are the very best when it came to gluten awareness. NCL were hopeless and clueless, P&O were okay but made an error on ourlast night and I ended up in A&E in Southampton

When I was a child my "bread" was on prescription and came in tins - often green and stinking by the evening Things are so much better now

Thank you. That's very kind of you. We all didn't realise how much just a crumb could cause a problem, we know now. My granddaughter now has her own toaster and her own butter. At the moment we're all feeling a bit shell shocked about it all. She's only 10 and it's a big deal for her.

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