# Taking food into another country **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 27, 2017, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-food-into-another-country/797459 "2017-09-27T19:39:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![copperwindow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@copperwindow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/copperwindow)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2017, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-food-into-another-country/797459/1 "2017-09-27T19:39:09Z")
I’m going on vacation to Male This Saturday We private resort.The only thing on the island will be the resort itself And the only places to eat will be at the restaurant that are in the resort. I wanted to bring who’d with me to the resort, but I am wondering if I can take food into another country. Are there any sort of restrictions on what food I can Into another cInto another country? ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2017, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-food-into-another-country/797459/2 "2017-09-27T19:44:34Z")
There usually are, but they vary by country. For Mali, [the webpage of their Customs](http://douanes.gouv.ml/qu%E2%80%99avez-vous-%C3%A0-d%C3%A9clarer) is set in a way that calls for a list of banned products, but the list is actually not available. You can use [this contact form](http://douanes.gouv.ml/formulaire-de-contact) to ask for it, or try [their embassy](https://www.embassypages.com/missions/embassy17609/) (the webpage is corrupted). ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2017, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-food-into-another-country/797459/3 "2017-09-27T19:55:25Z")
I’m going to guess that the OP is not talking about the country Mali, a landlocked desert country which I would be surprised to find has any island resorts, but Mali Island Resort in Thailand. (Though I suppose he could be referring to the town of Male in the Maldives.) I think the OP needs to turn autocorrect off before proceeding further. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![copperwindow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@copperwindow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/copperwindow)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2017, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-food-into-another-country/797459/4 "2017-09-27T19:56:00Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > There usually are, but they vary by country. > > For Mali, [the webpage of their Customs](http://douanes.gouv.ml/qu%E2%80%99avez-vous-%C3%A0-d%C3%A9clarer) is set in a way that calls for a list of banned products, but the list is actually not available. You can use [this contact form](http://douanes.gouv.ml/formulaire-de-contact) to ask for it, or try [their embassy](https://www.embassypages.com/missions/embassy17609/) (the webpage is corrupted). No, not Mail,but Male, as in the Maldives. ---
**Author:** ![Schnitte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/schnitte/32/9033_2.png) [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2017, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-food-into-another-country/797459/5 "2017-09-27T19:57:30Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > For Mali, [the webpage of their Customs](http://douanes.gouv.ml/qu%E2%80%99avez-vous-%C3%A0-d%C3%A9clarer) is set in a way that calls for a list of banned products I’m guessing here, but I think it’s more likely the OP is going to the Maldives (the capital of which is called Malé). Better known as a destination for resort vacation than Mali. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2017, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-food-into-another-country/797459/6 "2017-09-27T19:59:19Z")
> [@copperwindow](#): > > No, not Mail,but Male, as in the Maldives. Well in that case, this is the page of [their customs service](https://www.customs.gov.mv/) and here the contact of [their embassy](http://maldivesembassy.us/about-the-embassy/contact-us/) in NY. And you owe me at least a meal for the service. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2017, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-food-into-another-country/797459/7 "2017-09-27T20:19:07Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > Well in that case, this is the page of [their customs service](https://www.customs.gov.mv/) and here the contact of [their embassy](http://maldivesembassy.us/about-the-embassy/contact-us/) in NY. Looks like the OP is OK unless he plans to pack a live pig in his luggage. (Although alcohol is also prohibited.) ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2017, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-food-into-another-country/797459/8 "2017-09-28T06:29:00Z")
Just looking at the travel information for Male, it sure seems like a lot more then just a resort. Should be plenty of places to eat great local food. Dennis ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2017, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-food-into-another-country/797459/9 "2017-09-28T06:50:58Z")
What’s wrong with the food at the resort? ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2017, 8:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-food-into-another-country/797459/10 "2017-09-28T08:35:18Z")
Looking at the [map](https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@4.1782034,73.5052343,19z) there seems to be a huge selection of places to eat. To me, the problem would be in choosing. ---
**Author:** ![Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/channing_idaho_banks/32/250_2.png) [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Channing_Idaho_Banks)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2017, 8:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-food-into-another-country/797459/11 "2017-09-28T08:50:25Z")
If you have a dietary restriction, make sure to let them know. ---
**Author:** ![Sasquatch\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8491ac/32.png) [@Sasquatch\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sasquatch_1)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2017, 9:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-food-into-another-country/797459/12 "2017-09-28T09:28:58Z")
As a general rule though, fresh food of all sorts is out, as it can contain insects or insect eggs, diseases, and other bad things to spread. Processed and packaged stuff is normally OK, as long as it doesn’t cross other lines, like religious or political food import restrictions. Sometimes places don’t allow open packages, so that too… ---
**Author:** ![Desert\_Nomad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desert_nomad/32/177_2.png) [@Desert\_Nomad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desert_Nomad)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2017, 9:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-food-into-another-country/797459/13 "2017-09-28T09:54:22Z")
We loved the food in Malé (the city, not a resort). At your resort, you probably will not find much local food which is a shame. Too many people go the the Maldives and never really see the Maldives at all. ---
**Author:** ![copperwindow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@copperwindow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/copperwindow)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2017, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-food-into-another-country/797459/14 "2017-09-29T05:04:39Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > What’s wrong with the food at the resort? It’s the only thing to eat, which means it will be way over priced. It’s not like I can go to a supermarket and buy something cheaper. Will I need a visa, or will my passport be good enough? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2017, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-food-into-another-country/797459/15 "2017-09-29T05:25:25Z")
> [@copperwindow](#): > > Will I need a visa, or will my passport be good enough? You’re going in two days, and you haven’t checked if you need a visa yet? ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2017, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-food-into-another-country/797459/16 "2017-09-29T05:25:28Z")
> [@copperwindow](#): > > It’s the only thing to eat, which means it will be way over priced. It’s not like I can go to a supermarket and buy something cheaper. Will I need a visa, or will my passport be good enough? It’s just strange - I’ve never heard of a resort that didn’t have breakfast and dinner, at least, included in the price. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2017, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-food-into-another-country/797459/17 "2017-09-29T14:15:35Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > > [@copperwindow](#): > > > > Will I need a visa, or will my passport be good enough? > > You’re going in two days, and you haven’t checked if you need a visa yet? That’s a good question. What I’m wondering is why would you go halfway around the world to a resort on a flyspeck of an island in the middle of the Indian Ocean without checking whether the meals are included (and if not, how much they cost) and even the menus to see if they have food you like to eat (and _can_ eat, if you have dietary restrictions)? Especially given that you said that there’s no place to eat outside of the resort. Plus part of the reason for going on vacation is having someone else do the work you normally do. Like preparing meals. (I could see bringing some snacks as comfort food for the hotel room. But for the meals themselves, I want to go out to eat.) In my experience most of these places have their menus available online. ---
**Author:** ![hibernicus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hibernicus/32/2802_2.png) [@hibernicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hibernicus)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2017, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-food-into-another-country/797459/18 "2017-09-29T22:09:09Z")
> [@copperwindow](#): > > Will I need a visa, or will my passport be good enough? [Maldives Immigration site](http://www.immigration.gov.mv/pages/entry.html) says you don’t need to organise a visa in advance - you will be issued with a free 30-day visa on arrival.