Turkey on the plane?

[Manitou]

For the past several years we have always had a natural organic fed turkey for Thanksgiving. Since we will be in Playa over turkey day this year I think it's pretty safe to say we won't find one of these delectable birds at Chedraui or San Francisco. After doing some googling I couldn't come up with a definitive answer to the following question:

Can we bring a frozen turkey to Mexico either as a carry on or as checked baggage?

[james]

a better question...

can you bring two?

[Bumper]

Now the memory sometimes fails me from time to time, but it seems to me there a gag about vultures flying with carrion baggage? BA-DUM-BUM!!

[Nerak936]

Good one, Bumper!!!

I just want to add that I've sat next to a coupla turkeys from time to time on planes....

[playawannabe]

yes?? I have heard of folks in Cancun with Canuck relatives dining quite well over the holidays on imported poultry. Now whether it was done on the up and up, or ziplocked in gramma's suitcase, I couldn't tell ya.......although methinks that the turkey bones would look mighty funny on an x-ray. This may be a question for the Forum Goddess... Denisea?? Are you out there?

[Bumper]

Originally Posted by Nerak936

I just want to add that I've sat next to a coupla turkeys from time to time on planes....

Now you've hurt my feelings, Karen. You didn't even introduce yourself or offer to buy me a drink!! I only recall you saying, "Excuse me, but are my ribs hurting your elbow?"

[Nerak936]

Only felt it when you reached over to steal my barf bag!!

[Phillyangel]

I would say to phone the airline directly. There was an episode of "Airline" on this weekend that dealt with this issue, and I think they required that poultry be frozen in dry ice in a cooler. I know in Canada, Westjet has strict regulations for transporting stuff like fish, using a specific kind of cooler, etc. I bet it won't be a problem, you just may have to jump through a few hoops.

[birdman]

meat, fish, & poultry, are on the list of things that have to be declared when you get into Mex. but never heard you can't take any of them in ---- hmmm wonder how long they quaranteen a dead turkey

[Eric in KC]

While I love turkey and the traditional Thanksgiving feast, I think that since we'll be in Playa on Thanksgiving this year, I'll be doing the shrimp tacos at El Oasis or the Coconut Shrimp at Playa Maya instead. Or maybe both.

I can always have turkey when we get home!

[SarahB]

Good question...and I always wanted to know the answer too! We used to take lots of frozen meat with us when Playa didn't have the selection that it does now. I never declared any of it, but luckily we never got the red light with these bags. The only trouble we ever had was once we had to pay because the bag was too heavy (we were flying out of Canada). I just figured if we got busted and it wasn't allowed, some Mexican family would have lots of meat to eat! I'm still curious what the official law is though!

[Softy57]

I'd check the air carrier too. Phillyangel is right tho, we have clams shipped to us from Washington state in styrofoam coolers with "ice packs",covers and sealed. The airline will tell you how to package it so that you can check it.Have a great Holiday.

[Big Kahuna]

I sat next to a TURKEY on the plane last month on my trip home from Atlanta. It was a HEN, I think! Aside from sleeping with her mouth hanging wide open and leaning right toward my ear, the perfume she chose to bathe in that day was making me sick to my stomach. I prefer stuffing!

[denisea]

Originally Posted by playawannabe

This may be a question for the Forum Goddess... Denisea?? Are you out there?

Well, of course, I did some checking on this because inquiring minds like ours want to know:

So to answer Manitou's question...

Originally Posted by Manitou

Can we bring a frozen turkey to Mexico either as a carry on or as checked baggage?

...I'd have to say from everything I've read... the answer is no, not legally. Here's why...

Effective February 24, 2004 the Agriculture Ministry (Sagarpa) began prohibiting the import of tourist (private consumption) and commercial poultry from and coming from the United States. The ban includes live birds, their products and subproducts. Below is the most recent info regarding importing meat and poultry products into Mexico from the USDA Food and Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) web site.

Originally Posted by www.fsis.usda.gov

Eligible/Ineligible Products

1. Eligible Products
   1. Fresh/frozen meat and meat products with the exception of beef and beef products. However, boneless beef and boneless beef products including tripe, trimmings, heart, kidneys, lips, diaphragm, tongue and cheek meat derived from animals less than 30 months of age and produced under an approved Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Beef Export Verification (BEV) program for Mexico are eligible for export. Also, veal, bone-in and boneless derived from animals less than 36 weeks of age and produced under the AMS, BEV program is considered eligible. Inedible tallow and livers may be derived from animals of any age and do not have to be produced under the AMS, BEV program. In some cases, these eligible products are limited to specific ports of entry which are further defined in the Documentation Section. In all cases producing establishments, with the exception of inedible tallow and livers, must be on an AMS approved list in order to be eligible to export. In addition, beef and beef products containing beef imported from establishments in Australia and New Zealand are eligible for export. These imported products must be processed in U.S. plants with an approved AMS, BEV program for Mexico.

      1. Information about the BEV program and a list of BEV approved establishments can be obtained from the following website: http://www.ams.usda.gov/lsg/arc/bev.htm.

   2. Cooked poultry and poultry products from any state.
   3. Cooked poultry meat, pre-cooked or smoked, whole or cuts from any state.
   4. Fresh/frozen poultry meat for further processing including mechanically de-boned meat, carcass frames, viscera, and offal product. However, products originating in the states of California, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Texas must be destined to a SAGARPA authorized processing plant. Product from the following counties in Texas are ineligible: Gonzales, Guadalupe, Galdwell, Bastrop, Fayette, La Vaca, De Witt, Karnes, Wilson, Comal and Hays.
   5. Fresh/frozen poultry meat including mechanically de-boned meat, viscera and offal products with the exception of product originating in the states of California, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey,
   6. Chicken meat in brine with the exception of product originating in the states of California, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Texas.
   
   
2. Ineligible products
   
   1. Beef and beef products, with the exception of boneless beef and boneless beef products and products that contain beef imported from Australia and New Zealand produced under an AMS, BEV program for Mexico as described in the Eligible products section.
   2. Uncooked poultry and poultry products with the exception of those products listed as "Eligible Products".
   3. Uncooked poultry products stored in cold storage facilities located in the cold storage facilities located in the states of California, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Texas with the exception of A.4. listed under “Eligible Products”.
   4. All poultry products, in addition to uncooked poultry products, stored in cold storage facilities located in the state of Texas with the exception of A.4. listed under “Eligible Products”.
   5. All poultry products originating from birds slaughtered in the state of Texas with the exception of A.4. listed under “Eligible Products.

[maya]

I think I read somewhere since 9/11 dry ice is not permitted on airplanes and I am almost sure if you arrive in Cancun with a cooler-even if you should get the green line-soemone will be standing there wanting you to open the cooler. I know because its happen to use twice and both before 9/11/