Buying food at airport could see you fined up to £5,000

A UK airport has issued a warning after it emerged that travellers could be unknowingly risking a £5,000 fine simply by carrying a sandwich onto their flight.

Many passengers routinely purchase food at airports or bring their own snacks aboard planes without a second thought. However, London Luton Airport has drawn attention to the relevant legislation, and those planning to travel abroad in the near future would be wise to take heed.

A post on X from the airport's official account reads: "It is illegal to bring meats such as lamb, pork or beef or dairy products from the EU into GB in your luggage. This means items such as cheese, cured or raw meats, sandwiches and milk, including duty free purchases."

The guidance applies to all airports across England, Scotland and Wales.

Should you be found carrying any prohibited items, including sandwiches containing meat or dairy products even if bought at the airport, and fail to declare them to Border Force officers at customs, you could face prosecution or a £5,000 fine (in England only).

Rules around bringing in meat, dairy, fish and other animal products differ depending on the country of origin.

Travellers returning from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, the Faroe Islands and Greenland are banned from bringing in any of the following:

• cheese, milk and dairy products like butter and yoghurt
• pork
• beef
• lamb
• mutton
• goat
• venison
• other products made from these meats, for example sausages

You can bring in the following for personal use:

• fish
• poultry, for example chicken, duck, goose and any other products made from these meats
• other animal products, for example eggs and honey

You are also permitted to bring in up to 2kg per person of powdered infant milk, infant food, or specialist food required for medical purposes.

This is only permissible if it requires no refrigeration prior to use, and is contained in branded, unopened packaging (unless currently in use).

If you are travelling from a country outside the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, the Faroe Islands and Greenland, you are prohibited from bringing any meat or meat products, or milk or milk-based products, with the exception of powdered infant milk, infant food or special food needed for medical reasons.

You are, however, permitted to bring in up to 2kg per person of:

• honey
• powdered infant milk, infant food, or special food (including pet food) needed for medical reasons - you can only bring it in if it does not need to be refrigerated before use, and is in branded, unopened packaging (unless in current use)
• live mussels or oysters
• snails - these must be preserved or shelled, cooked and prepared
• frogs' legs - these must be the back (hind) part of the frog with the skin and internal organs removed
• insect protein

You may bring in up to 20kg per person in total of fish, including:

• fresh fish - must be gutted
• fish products
• processed fish - must be dried, cooked, cured or smoked
• lobsters
• prawns