Shipping Food

I'm getting ready to return to Bristol. Been home for 5 weeks. My company is shipping a crate for me with some personal items. Last time I was in UK I went through Mountain Dew withdrawls and can't live without Dots(candy). Am I going to run into any issues if I have cases of MD and Dots in my crate? Has anyone tried to ship other kitchen items like spices, oils, etc. that you know you can't find easily?

Thanks,

I believe that people often transport food items but there is little to no way to prevent rodents from invading your boxes and helping themselves to a bit of sweets and such.  One member was investigating using the plastic bins for transport storage but I'm not sure it would help keeping the little buggers out.  Perhaps, you could double box it?

I am planning to bring over all of my spices, etc. when I move but I will forego any perishables.

My DH is addicted to Mountain Dew so we had 5 cubes (24 cans each) put into our container. I also shipped all kinds of spices, dried beans, pecans, etc. No problems with critters. If it's a new bottle of spice it will have the "freshness seal" on it. I figured if McCormick can bottle it and ship it to Wal-Mart like that with no bugs then I can ship it to the UK just fine. Worked for me. I didn't ship any oils, but did ship maple syrup - again new with seals and it was fine. No problems in customs, but it was part of a larger container where the food item boxes were labeled "kitchen ware."

I believe that people often transport food items but there is little to no way to prevent rodents from invading your boxes and helping themselves to a bit of sweets and such.  One member was investigating using the plastic bins for transport storage but I'm not sure it would help keeping the little buggers out.  Perhaps, you could double box it?

I am planning to bring over all of my spices, etc. when I move but I will forego any perishables.

Just wanted to save you some space...they have all the spices you'll need here. In fact, I think they have more...lol. Unless you have some homemade spices or rare ones, then you'll be able to find everything that's commonly used...ie. allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg, extracts (vanilla, peppermint), dried spices...

 Tesco (www.tesco.com) and Sainsburys (www.sainsburys.co.uk) are 2 of the bigger supermarkets around the UK...have a browse to see what's available before you ship things you might not need to 

Just wanted to save you some space...they have all the spices you'll need here. In fact, I think they have more...lol. Unless you have some homemade spices or rare ones, then you'll be able to find everything that's commonly used...ie. allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg, extracts (vanilla, peppermint), dried spices...

 Tesco (www.tesco.com) and Sainsburys (www.sainsburys.co.uk) are 2 of the bigger supermarkets around the UK...have a browse to see what's available before you ship things you might not need to

Alas, I haven't seen any tony chachere's creole seasonings...a staple...not rare.

Thanks for the suggestions and links to stores.  I've got quite the collection of spices and swore the last time (when I gave them all away) that I'd not do it again.  I'm sending the majority of my belongings via ocean container and will pack my spices really well - they are my cooking babies.

Thanks, everyone. Sorry I haven't responded sooner but I was packing and traveling back. Got in Saturday morning. I packed all my own boxes. My DEW is just in the cases inside the crate. We send crates back and forth all the time so I hope that no "critters" will get in the crate itself. My crate is coming over in a larger shipment of 7 crates with display parts in them  that are all coming to our warehouse in Bristol. Spices and canned food are in seperate boxes labled kitchen stuff I packed other kitchen items in the boxes as well.

Again thanks all. It helped me out.