Food Allergies-Air Travel-Kids

[ARK]

I am travelling with a child that has severe food allergies. I will be vacationing for 3 weeks in Australia. I plan to bring most of the food for my child from USA. Because I would want to avoid as much as possible using anything new. I plan to bring milk in 8 OZ boxes, carry few and check in most of it. I will also carry a doctor's note. Would this be a problem?

 

[docjames]

The simple rule is if you declare it, you wont get in any difficulty (ie. fined!), and worst case scenario any "high risk" goods will be seized.

If it's all mass-produced foods (cereals, UHT milk etc) you shouldn't have too much difficulty. "Fresh" milk is a problem, but of course you'd be bringing UHT milk (i'd assume!) so shouldn't be an issue.

Many of the brands here are the same as those available in the USA - have you explored what is available here so you don't have to carry it and don't have to worry about getting goods through customs?

Both the "major" supermarket chains here (Coles and Woolworths) have online shops and you can check out what is freely available. There also used to be a "USA" food shop in Melbourne (that imported specific things that aren't routinely stocked in major chains such as Dr Pepper and various lollies etc!)

What sort of other foods are you bringing?

 

[bam71]

Bringing food into Australia ca be a BIG problem. Certainly they won't permit anything fresh like fruits or nuts/seeds, they'll be confiscated. Canned goods would be ok to a degree. Australia has very strict bio security laws. With regards to the milk in the carry on bags, normal LAG ( liquids and gels) protocols would apply, so don't go over the limit of 100 millilitres. ( I think 8 oz is over this?).

Without grandstanding, our bio security can seem like a bit of overkill for first time visitors, ( you can get fined smuggling in an apple if you get caught), but its there to protect the wildlife we have here. Australia is an island and our native plants and animals have no protection from a lot of pests and diseases that can be accidentally brought in from food/nuts/seeds that are in most other countries.

In saying that though, I think you'll find our range of produce here is extensive, and you should have no problem purchasing food items to make a meal suitable for the allergies your child has.

Good luck and have a great trip!

 

[ARK]

The simple rule is if you declare it, you wont get in any difficulty (ie. fined!), and worst case scenario any "high risk" goods will be seized.

If it's all mass-produced foods (cereals, UHT milk etc) you shouldn't have too much difficulty. "Fresh" milk is a problem, but of course you'd be bringing UHT milk (i'd assume!) so shouldn't be an issue.

Many of the brands here are the same as those available in the USA - have you explored what is available here so you don't have to carry it and don't have to worry about getting goods through customs?

Both the "major" supermarket chains here (Coles and Woolworths) have online shops and you can check out what is freely available. There also used to be a "USA" food shop in Melbourne (that imported specific things that aren't routinely stocked in major chains such as Dr Pepper and various lollies etc!)

What sort of other foods are you bringing?

Thank you for the quick reply. I am planning to bring cereal, cereal bars(no seeds or nuts), gluten free Mac and cheese, dry pasta and marinara sauce, UHT milk boxes,gluten free flour, crackers, some chocolate. These are like our emergency supplies during travel. I will have to carry food always for my kido, cannot eat outside for the fear of cross contamination. I hope these will be ok.

 

[ARK]

Bringing food into Australia ca be a BIG problem. Certainly they won't permit anything fresh like fruits or nuts/seeds, they'll be confiscated. Canned goods would be ok to a degree. Australia has very strict bio security laws. With regards to the milk in the carry on bags, normal LAG ( liquids and gels) protocols would apply, so don't go over the limit of 100 millilitres. ( I think 8 oz is over this?).

Without grandstanding, our bio security can seem like a bit of overkill for first time visitors, ( you can get fined smuggling in an apple if you get caught), but its there to protect the wildlife we have here. Australia is an island and our native plants and animals have no protection from a lot of pests and diseases that can be accidentally brought in from food/nuts/seeds that are in most other countries.

In saying that though, I think you'll find our range of produce here is extensive, and you should have no problem purchasing food items to make a meal suitable for the allergies your child has.

Good luck and have a great trip!

Thank you! Could you please suggest any local tourist agent for day trips in Sydney, Melbourne & Great Barrier reef.
Also want to do some trips from Gheelong area? Do you know of any agent?

 

[Denali]

Thank you for the quick reply. I am planning to bring cereal, cereal bars(no seeds or nuts), gluten free Mac and cheese, dry pasta and marinara sauce, UHT milk boxes,gluten free flour, crackers, some chocolate. These are like our emergency supplies during travel. I will have to carry food always for my kido, cannot eat outside for the fear of cross contamination. I hope these will be ok.

You might be surprised by the amount of allergy/gluten free options you have down here. Even my local suburban Coles has an entire aisle to gluten free and cafe's often sell gluten/nut free items but I understand your concerns plus your kid knows what he/she likes and will want what they are use to.

My experience is always declare and 99% of commercially package goods are given the OK.

Hope you have a happy and safe trip down here.

 

[Happy Dude]

I reckon just about everything on your list will require to be declared. See this:

Arriving in Australia – Declare it

Just because it must be declared doesn't mean you can't bring it in but be prepared to accept that it can be seized.

As others have pointed out, everything you need will be available here.

 

[BAM1748]

To reinforce previous comments. Declare everything. If it's processed and sealed you should be right.

While it may appear at first glance some things are hard to get you won't have any issued buying all those products here.

The big reef trip - Quicksilver is the big one and I pack the family off on that when I'm doing business in north queensland.

Where are you staying in Sydney and Melbourne? Blue mountains and Phillip Island and good day trips.

 

[Denali]

For Sydney, Featherdale, at Blacktown (train from Sydney) instead of Tarronga zoo. More of a big petting zoo so kids can get close to baby kangaroos and koalas and lots of other animals. Just don't hang around Blacktown or get a taxi from Doonside.