Full List: Food items Nigerians are prohibited from taking to UK

Food is an integral part of Nigerian culture, and many travelers often wish to bring their favorite local delicacies when visiting the UK.

However, the UK has stringent import regulations to safeguard public health, prevent the spread of diseases, and protect its agricultural sector.

Understanding these restrictions is crucial to avoid complications at the airport and the disappointment of having your food items confiscated.

If you’re planning a trip from Nigeria to the UK, here’s a comprehensive guide to the foods you cannot bring and potential alternatives that may be permitted.

Travelers from Nigeria are prohibited from bringing any meat or dairy products into the UK.

These restrictions are in place to prevent the spread of diseases such as Foot and Mouth Disease.

Prohibited items include raw, cooked, or processed meats, including beef, goat, chicken, and suya (spiced grilled meat).

Dairy products such as milk, cheese, butter, and yogurts are also restricted.

Traditional Nigerian meat-based dishes like kilishi (dried spicy beef) and nkwobi (cow foot in spicy sauce) are not allowed, nor are meat-filled pastries and pies, including meat pie and sausage rolls.

While small quantities of fish and seafood are allowed, they must be fully processed, packaged, and free from contamination.

Restricted items include fresh or raw fish, unless gutted and cleaned, smoked or dried fish if not commercially packaged, crayfish and prawns that do not meet UK health standards, and stockfish (dried cod), a popular Nigerian delicacy, unless it meets import certification requirements.

Fresh plant-based foods are strictly regulated to prevent the introduction of pests and plant diseases.

Prohibited items include fresh fruits such as mangoes, oranges, and pawpaw (papaya), unless they meet phytosanitary certification standards, fresh vegetables, including ugu (fluted pumpkin leaves), bitter leaves, and scent leaves, and raw or unprocessed nuts and seeds, such as groundnuts (peanuts) and melon seeds (egusi), unless commercially packaged and processed.

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