Foie gras and cheese: customs formalities
According to a number of studies, foie gras and cheese are the two products that French-food lovers crave and miss most. However, unlike wine and certain other French specialties, getting your hands on good foie gras and traditionally prepared French cheeses can be a difficult task. Unfortunately, there is not always an alternative choice to paying astronomical prices for products often made industrially rather than traditionally by small-scale artisans.
Delivery limited to the United States
Foie Gras Gourmet only ships within the United States. Whether you live in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, or Miami, delivery is reliable thanks to the seriousness of our logistical partners, especially through accurate tracking of your packages.
Customs: Committed to ensuring Public Health
Customs administrations aim to stop any food items potentially unfit for human consumption and liable to negatively impact the health of the public from entering their territory. For domestic delivery within the U.S., these standards are rigorously respected.
Let us consider two aspects:
- Sterilization of agri-food products significantly limits the risk of problems with customs. A raw product may eventually be more likely to cause issues due to bacterial development. Conversely, if the product is cooked at high temperature or sterilized, it has been rid of potentially dangerous components without altering its taste.
- Temperature-sensitive products must be kept refrigerated, or they are at greater risk of being deemed unfit. A product that must remain cold can spoil if the cold chain is not maintained, making it potentially unsafe for consumption.
Customs and transport of foie gras
There are three different types of foie gras:
- Fresh foie gras – to be pan-fried
- Semi-cooked foie gras – pasteurized at about 85°C, must be kept cool between 0 and 4°C
- Canned foie gras – sterilized at 110°C, does not require refrigeration
Canned foie gras can withstand heat for several hours during transport without affecting its quality. Simply refrigerate for 2 hours before consumption.
For customs purposes within the United States, only canned, sterilized foie gras that does not require refrigeration is considered non-dangerous.
Transport by plane
When transporting foie gras by plane domestically in the U.S., always check airline policies. Recommendations:
- Use containers of 200 grams or less for checked baggage
- Wrap glass containers carefully or choose metal cans
- Ensure correct labeling for domestic regulations if sending via postal operators or couriers
Customs and transport of cheese
Artisanal cheeses, especially those made from raw milk and stored in refrigeration, may still pose challenges for transport. Soft cheeses (Brie, Camembert, Neufchatel, Livarot, Pont-L’Evêque, Munster, Epoisse) can be stored for 2–3 days outside refrigeration if left in original packaging and wrapped in a damp cloth.
Although U.S. domestic delivery largely eliminates customs issues, we still emphasize proper packaging and cold chain maintenance to ensure product safety and quality.
Customs fees for foie gras
Within the United States, there are no customs fees. Our deliveries are carefully managed to comply with all U.S. food regulations.
You can contact us at any time by phone at +1 208-816-7570 or via email at contact[@]foiegrasgourmet.us. Trust Foie Gras Gourmet to deliver excellent foies gras, gold medalists at the Paris Agricultural Competition, with care and compliance to all domestic food safety standards.