Dairy and meat to France (1 Viewer)

[Widge]

In the last few years I certainly haven’t found French supermarkets cheaper than UK ones. Last trip we thought they more expensive.

Maybe Brains's supermarket trolly is half full of wine, then it would be much cheaper.

 

[jeddy]

7

They 'profile' I think.

If you're a regular couple of a certain age I would think not. If you're young, maybe. If you're a man travelling alone quite possibly.

(Brittany Ferries made me put my little Swiss army knife with the van cutlery, and I've had various dogs trying to sniff out contraband, but I think the tunnel is generally fairly relaxed.)

Have been crossing to France annually for 25 years. Twice a year now
I’m retired. Never had my fridge checked and not been stopped at all for years.
I travel alone and do not understand why this makes me a suspicious person liable to being stopped and checked!
Many of my friends who are couples have been stopped and questioned though.
And they’re as old as me

 

[Suenliam]

Came over Portsmouth to Caen last Thursday night. No checks whatsoever- even gas. Usually checked on our way back but just for humans not cheese! I try to use up stuff in the home fridge before the holidays or give some away to neighbours but there are always somethings not quite suitable for passing on!
We love our first supermarket shop - lots of fresh produce and different cuts of meat etc.
Sue

 

[peterc10]

however some stuff is quite a bit more, bread loaves for example can be extortionate in France for a simple basic loaf.

But that is because their "standard" bread is the baguette rather than the loaf in the UK. And you can get baguettes for about 39p in the supermarkets. We always buy them.

 

[Bibbers]

Last year on our way back at Calais they had a quick look around the van (not the fridge) I realised after they had gone that they had checked our fresh water tank under the bathroom floor as the lid wasn't down properly. I assume that would be for fags, booze or drugs.

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[Fulham Dave]

Soooooo ... does that mean that you dispose of all the 'illegal' produce before you cross from the UK to France?

No, we plan ahead and make sure we eat it before cross to the continent, then stock up with what we want or need over there, simples

 

[Jerrywh]

Our experience is that going to France nobody cares at all, whereas entering the UK (usually Dover) they do and always check out this and that. They are convinced there will be illegals in the shower ... fortunately, my habit of bringing back far more wine than is allowed distracts them: https://larrylastrada.blogspot.com/2022/05/larry-goes-to-fuengirola-22-monday-30.html

 

[Garfields]

Just thought I could fill the fresh water tank with wine.
100 liters or so
Question do I go red or White?
Or half each and call it rose

 

[Nirvanauk]

Just thought I could fill the fresh water tank with wine.
100 liters or so
Question do I go red or White?
Or half each and call it rose

What if you got pulled and were weighed and over limit., can you just imagine the look of despair when told to dump it.

 

[Garfields]

What if you got pulled and were weighed and over limit., can you just imagine the look of despair when told to dump it.

I'm ok vans been up plated.
The frost valve on the boiler sometimes drips though

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[DerryW]

We came across yesterday afternoon, no fridge check. The only difference from last time was, at the UK customs they were putting every vehicle no matter what they were motorcycle, car, motorhome or anything on wheels through security check, although in our case they were only interested in checking the gas was turned off. Ironically in front of us was a Dutch registered bright red Ferrari which failed to start when given the red light, how embarrassing for the guy. We had to reverse out of the search area.

 

[CJK]

In general, if you pass the "attitude test" at the border they aren't interested.

That is really good advice I think.

 

[CJK]

I wonder if anyone has actually taken in large quantities of durian fruit, bananas and fish as allowed. That would surprise the authorities.

 

[Molly A]

Don't think pay etc will be great but , fortunately , they are not all the same

No they are not all the same. Far from it.

 

[Molly A]

But that is because their "standard" bread is the baguette rather than the loaf in the UK. And you can get baguettes for about 39p in the supermarkets. We always buy them.

Yep, of course you can pay more for an artisan, specialised loaf in a posh bakery, much as you do in the UK, £3 or more for a sourdough for example, their standard baguettes and boules are very good and very cheap.

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[Molly A]

In the last few years I certainly haven’t found French supermarkets cheaper than UK ones. Last trip we thought they more expensive.

I think it very much depends what you buy. Fruit and veg are still cheaper and much, much better quality, meat is so so, pricewise depending on what you choose, fish and shellfish is good value, dairy/ cheese is still good value as are pates and charcuterie products ( and way better in terms of quality and choice) processed food is more expensive, but we never buy it so no big deal for us. We love the whole experience of supermarket shopping in France and Italy, although Switzerland can be a bit eye watering. We also take advantage of the weekly markets you find even in the small villages and like to buy direct from the producers.

 

[SpeedyDux]

Their not interested, they probably think the ruling is stupid as we do.

I have often wondered about this restriction. Does it apply e.g. to Salami? That's an EU-sourced meat product imported into the UK. Are we banned from taking it back into the EU?

I cannot find lactose-free cheese on sale in France so I am tempted to bring some with me and risk some kind of penalty.

 

[Minxy]

Let's not forget food quality, variety, presentation, levels of stock etc etc in French supermarket is way above stuff in the UK. Worth paying extra for in my opinion.

Some of the food quality is questionable though, eg they have loads of cooked meats in packs for sale but lots of it I wouldn't give to my dogs. Just as in the UK you can buy better stuff by paying more but we've found that by comparison France is still dearer.

But that is because their "standard" bread is the baguette rather than the loaf in the UK. And you can get baguettes for about 39p in the supermarkets. We always buy them.

You mean the rounders bats disguising themselves as baguettes! We're lucky if they aren't hard by lunchtime.

No, we plan ahead and make sure we eat it before cross to the continent, then stock up with what we want or need over there, simples

Translated as 'we have a binge before we cross'!

 

[Minxy]

I have often wondered about this restriction. Does it apply e.g. to Salami? That's an EU-sourced meat product imported into the UK. Are we banned from taking it back into the EU?

Yes, it's daft isn't it!

I cannot find lactose-free cheese on sale in France so I am tempted to bring some with me and risk some kind of penalty.

Just take the stuff you want to, as you can see from the previous funster comments it's not an issue and the worst thing that would happen in any case is they'd confiscate it, it ain't gonna happen though.

 

[Joethejoiner]

Some of the food quality is questionable though, eg they have loads of cooked meats in packs for sale but lots of it I wouldn't give to my dogs. Just as in the UK you can buy better stuff by paying more but we've found that by comparison France is still dearer.


You mean the rounders bats disguising themselves as baguettes! We're lucky if they aren't hard by lunchtime.


Translated as 'we have a binge before we cross'!

Yes can't for the life of me understand why French bread has such a short shelf life !
What is French for preservatives?

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[Minxy]

Yes can't for the life of me understand why French bread has such a short shelf life !
What is French for preservatives?

Zero!

 

[VXman]

Some of the food quality is questionable though, eg they have loads of cooked meats in packs for sale but lots of it I wouldn't give to my dogs. Just as in the UK you can buy better stuff by paying more but we've found that by comparison France is still dearer.

If course you need to compare similar types of supermarkets but some of the butcher, fishmonger, fruit/veg, bakeries - fresh counters are like nothing I have seen in the UK - including Waitrose.

 

[SpeedyDux]

Yes can't for the life of me understand why French bread has such a short shelf life !
What is French for preservatives?

Not sure. I only know that the French call condoms "preservatifs".

Anyhow I often make a proper baguette last 2 days ... I like chewy bread ...

 

[Spriddler]

Not sure. I only know that the French call condoms "preservatifs".

When I was a wild thing living in Paris a French letter was known as une capote anglaise.

 

[Joethejoiner]

If course you need to compare similar types of supermarkets but some of the butcher, fishmonger, fruit/veg, bakeries - fresh counters are like nothing I have seen in the UK - including Waitrose.

Yes indeed.
The comments re French food on many (all?) motorhome forums never cease to amaze (amuse) me .
Crap cheese , apparently all 600+ of them . Crap bread . Yes compared to UK bread .
Unfortunately there has been a dumbing down of food universally. Even , up to a point , in France.
We all like a bargain but , from what I read here , most of us draw a line when genuine quality is compromised. Except , for many , when it comes to food .

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[peterc10]

You mean the rounders bats disguising themselves as baguettes! We're lucky if they aren't hard by lunchtime.

They are supposed to be crispy and are. They are like they are because the law in France dictates exactly what can go in them. That means no artificial ingredients and chemicals, unlike the bread that we buy to keep it "fresh" for days/weeks. And they are much better for that. You can't eat Brie with any other bread.

Traditionally the lady of the house would shop twice daily for the family's baguettes. Once in the morning for lunch and once in the afternoon for dinner.

 

[Minxy]

Not sure. I only know that the French call condoms "preservatifs".

Anyhow I often make a proper baguette last 2 days ... I like chewy bread ...

When I was a wild thing living in Paris a French letter was known as une capote anglaise.

The History Of How The French Named Condoms - Ancient Past

It's an intriguing tale to be told, tracing the evolution of the French people's label for condoms. From its beginnings, "capote anglaise" was employed in

ancientspast.com

 

[Minxy]

They are supposed to be crispy and are. They are like they are because the law in France dictates exactly what can go in them. That means no artificial ingredients and chemicals, unlike the bread that we buy to keep it "fresh" for days/weeks. And they are much better for that. You can't eat Brie with any other bread.

Crispy ... maybe for a few minutes when they first come out of the oven ... The ingredients may be dictated by French law but it must create a lot of wastage.

We find that wrapping them in cling film keeps them from drying out so they tend to be edible for longer although we often cut them to sandwich size and warm them in our 'Happycall' pan (yes it really is called that! ) for lunch or toast them for breakfast.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Happycall-Nonstick-Omelette-Dishwasher-PFOA-Free/dp/B006W9P882?tag=mhf04-21

Traditionally the lady of the house would shop twice daily for the family's baguettes. Once in the morning for lunch and once in the afternoon for dinner.

I don't think my teeth would stand eating THAT much bread every day! I would prefer my teeth to last till I kick the bucket and not be 'abused' by a wooden baguette.

 

[Hawkstone]

I could eat French bread with salted butter all day long. The boulangerie outside of the Carrefour in Dunkirk sells a Polka loaf. It’s round and almost black because it’s so well baked. So soft inside though. Far superior to the baguettes.

 

[Molly A]

Yes can't for the life of me understand why French bread has such a short shelf life !
What is French for preservatives?

Because they eat it the same day and buy fresh. Personally prefer not to have foods stuffed with preservatives, which could well outlive me!

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