Parmesan, olive oil, dried pasta, truffle products — what you can ship, what customs will seize, and the safest ways to get Italian food home.
Plan your Italy trip →To the US: Hard cheeses (Parmigiano, Pecorino, Grana Padano), cured meats that are commercially packaged and sealed (prosciutto, salami — USDA has relaxed rules for commercially produced items from EU), olive oil, dried pasta, dried herbs, vinegar, chocolate, cookies, coffee, truffle products (oil, cream, salt), dried mushrooms, packaged candy.
To the UK: Post-Brexit, food imports from EU are generally allowed for personal use. Commercial quantities require paperwork.
Within the EU: No restrictions. Ship anything food-related freely between EU countries.
Fresh meat and cured meats (from non-approved sources): If it's not commercially sealed and labeled, it's risky. A vacuum-packed prosciutto from a supermarket: usually fine. A hand-wrapped chunk from a market stall: might be seized.
Fresh fruits and vegetables: Banned.
Fresh dairy (soft cheeses, mozzarella, burrata): These won't survive shipping anyway, and technically aren't allowed.
Italian post office (Poste Italiane): Cheapest for small packages. A 5kg box to the US: ~€30-50 by airmail (7-15 days). Reliable for non-perishable goods.
DHL/FedEx/UPS: Faster (3-5 days) but expensive: €50-100+ for 5kg. Better tracking and insurance. Use for valuable items (truffle products, expensive olive oil).
Specialty food shippers: Companies like Eataly's online store or igourmet.com ship Italian foods to the US with customs compliance built in. Sometimes easier to order from them once you know what you want, rather than shipping from Italy yourself.
The easiest method for most items. Hard cheeses, vacuum-packed salumi, olive oil (checked luggage only), dried pasta, truffle salt, coffee — all survive a transatlantic flight perfectly. Wrap glass bottles in clothes, seal olive oil in ziplock bags in case of leaks.
Tell us your dates and interests. We'll build your perfect Italy trip.
Plan free →