A 'pate en croute' of the delicatessen "Maison Verot" in Paris, Photo by Martin BUREAU / AFP. AFP via Getty Images Is France on your travel agenda this year like it is for 100+ million others? With the Olympics, the D-Day anniversary, the popularity of France-based shows like “Emily in Paris” and Notre Dame’s reopening drawing record crowds in 2024, the momentum isn’t slowing down for vacations to France. In fact, according to GlobalData, France is expected to be the most visited country in the world in 2025. While Parisian scarves, linen dish towels, leather goods or flea market art are always excellent souvenirs to bring home from France—the most popular category of French souvenirs is food and wine—bien sur! But bringing food from France to the U.S. takes some finesse and know-how. For instance, if you’re tempted to bring home a wheel of Camembert or some saucisson, check customs rules first—because nothing ruins a vacation faster than confiscated food souvenirs. Plan smart, and pack wisely so you can savor every bite when you return home. Tapping American expat Jessica Hammer—who now lives in Toulouse, France’s fourth largest city, and operates Taste of Toulouse food tours in English, here’s how to bring food from France to the U.S. like a pro: Skip packing a baguette and opt for a round sourdough loaf. Getty Images MORE FOR YOU Google Confirms Gmail Upgrade—3 Billion Users Must Now Decide Google Confirms User Data Deletion Error—Who Is Impacted, What To Do iPhone 15 Pro Available At Lower Price—Just Not From Apple Best French Bread and Pastry Souvenirs Craving a French baguette after returning home? You’re not alone. While stuffing a few in your suitcase isn’t crazy, it’s not ideal. “Baguettes are a 24-hour bread,” says Jessica Hammer. “After that, they’re too stale—even the good ones.” Instead, opt for round sourdough loaves, which last around five days, easing your re-entry blues. As for pastries? Macarons with jam fillings travel well, but the real MVPs are gâteaux de voyage—literally “travel cakes.” These shelf-stable treats that don’t require refrigeration, found in almost every patisserie, prove that even the French believe no trip is complete without bring a sweet treat with you! Safest French Cheeses to Bring Home If you're dreaming of bringing home a deliciously stinky French cheese, there are some important factors to consider. “The best bet for travelers that want to bring soft French cheeses home are ones that come in boxes,” Hammer explains. “Like Camembert de Normandie.” While you can find Camembert in the U.S., Normandie’s raw milk variety aged under 60 days is banned from import—as is any international raw milk cheese aged under 60 days is. For safe transport, Hammer recommends vacuum-sealing cheese to prevent messes, though she warns that “really gooey ones will squish—even vacuum sealed.” Semi-soft like Morbier or hard cheese options hold up better. How to Vacuum-Seal Cheese in France Most cheese and charcuterie shops in France have vacuum-sealing machines. “This is a common request,” says Jessica Hammer. The magic words to say? Sous vide. Simply ask, “Je voyage. Pourriez-vous les sous vide?” or “I’m traveling, can you sous vide this?” and they’ll know exactly what to do. Not only does vacuum-sealing make transport easier, but it also helps preserve the cheese’s freshness. French cheeses at Xavier cheese shop in Toulouse, France. French Cheese: Pack in Carry-on or Checked Bag? According to the TSA website, you can bring home creamy cheeses (up to 3.4 ounces in size) and hard cheeses, all sizes. “Some cheeses, especially the cube-shaped cheeses can look like an explosive in the TSA scanner,” explains Hammer. To avoid the hassle of having your bag searched and swabbed, you have two options: Remove the cheese from your carry-on bag and put them in the bin, alerting TSA what it is. Pack cheese in your checked suitcase. “The airplane’s luggage storage is cooler than the cabin,” explains Hammer. This is better insurance your precious fromage will arrive safely home with you. Is Butter Ok To Bring Home With Me? Butter—oddly enough, is considered a liquid by U.S. standards. “I had a cooler full of French cheese and butter as a carry-on,” says Hammer. “They confiscated the butter and my husband had to run back and check it.” Avoid bringing any pork, beef or lamb products from France (or any country) back to the US. Universal Images Group via Getty Images Worst French Food To Pack In Your Suitcase Thinking about sneaking home some French saucisson? Think again. “I never bring home sausages,” says Hammer. “If caught, you could lose your Global Entry privilege, and that’s just not worth it.” U.S. customs is strict about lamb, beef and pork products, so it’s best to avoid them altogether. She gets so many questions from travelers who take her tour, she wrote a comprehensive, international guide on bringing home food from France (it specifically addresses Toulousian foods but you can apply these tips to French food found throughout the country). If you’re unsure about a food item, honesty is key. “If you’re not sure, declare it,” Hammer advises. “The worst that happens is it gets taken away—better that than losing Global Entry.” When in doubt, stick to chocolates, salts, jams, and condiments for stress-free French food souvenirs. But sneaking sausage is tame compared to these strange items confiscated by TSA. Ideal French Meat or French Seafood Souvenirs “Canned foie gras that are in retail packaging, and have clear ingredient labels with proof of country origin are ok,” says Hammer. For extra precaution, put them in a checked bag. In general, seafood items in retail packaging, like caviar or sardines, are allowed. If you’re unsure what is allowed, check these USDA guidelines for international travelers bringing home meats, poultry or seafood. While France is one of the world's major wine exporters, there are still many wines you can't find ... More in the States—especially from smaller winemakers. So, if you've fallen in love with a bottle, bring it home with you. Getty Images Tips for Bringing French Wine Home Safely If your final destination is a non-stop flight from a French city, buy local spirits or wines at a Duty-Free shop. According to the TSA, you can carry duty-free liquids exceeding 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) in your carry-on baggage if you follow these rules: Proof of Purchase: Retain the original receipt, indicating that the purchase was made within the previous 48 hours. Secure Packaging: The wine must be packed in a transparent, secure, tamper-evident bag (STEB) by the retailer. Make sure the bag remains sealed with no signs of tampering. But, if you have a connecting flight once you land in the States, it might still get confiscated at TSA even if you bought it at Duty Free due to the inconsistencies of security agents’ enforcements. To ensure your vino makes it home with you, put your duty-free wine in checked baggage after clearing customs. Wrap it tightly in clothes, even throwing a long sock over the bottle will help. How I carried my daughter's bottle of wine (to open when she turns 21) home from Dijon, France - in ... More a wooden box provided by the wine shop. The safest bet to bring French wine home to the U.S. is to pack a few bubble wrap bottle sleeves in your suitcase before you go on your trip—especially if your itinerary includes visiting wineries or distilleries. On your return flight, pack your bottles in these sleeves, secure the top and place in the middle of your suitcase and check it. Forgot to pack these trusty bottle sleeves? Sometimes wine shops or wineries will have wooden boxes (see photo above) to transport bottles home. Based on experience, winemakers in France are especially accommodating to provide a wooden box if it’s an expensive bottle. Have any additional tips for bringing home food from France to the U.S.? Share in the comments below. (For more French vacation tips, check out this Nice, France travel guide.) Editorial StandardsForbes Accolades