Importing dried food

Hi --

I'm wondering if anyone knows about the legalities of importing dried and packaged food into the UK from the US.  (I can't find a clear answer on the web, nor does this question seem to be definitively answered in prior posts.)  In particular, I'm wondering about the following:
* spices (many in open, non-commercial containers)
* packaged mixes in their original boxes (e.g. pancake mix)
If these are legal to import, is it safer to bring them in personal luggage or send them with a shipment going by ocean freight (I'm afraid of the latter being held up at customs)?

Thanks much for your help.

It should be no problem to bring those items through customs with you. The food items you cannot bring through customs include meat and dairy produce, fresh fruit and vegetables and certain other items, such as fish, potatoes, eggs etc.

Items that are fine to bring through include tinned fruit and vegetables, dried foods, chocolate, candy, hard cured cheese, etc.

You can find out more about the allowances and restrictions here:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/TravellingAbroad/BringinggoodsorcashintotheUK/DG_064942

and here:

http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/illegali/allow/whatfood.htm

I read the subject, and thought it would be about dried pet food! LOL

I don't think you'd want to put it in your shipment because most ships have mice and I wouldn't want you to find a mouse in your belongings because it was attracted to the food smell!