Quick Answer: What Food Can You Ship to the UK?
You can legally ship commercially dried and processed plant-based food items and dried, boneless smoked fish into the United Kingdom under DEFRA regulations. Permitted items include garri, egusi, ogbono, yam flour (elubo), plantain flour, ground crayfish, dried bitterleaf, and sealed traditional seasonings. All items must be thoroughly dry, moisture-free, and vacuum-sealed. Fresh meats, poultry, bushmeat, and unpasteurized dairy are strictly prohibited and subject to immediate border seizure.
1. Permitted Nigerian Food Items (Full Breakdown)
When booking through County Cargo’s Nigeria to UK shipping corridor, the following food items are accepted and cleared smoothly:
Dried Fish & Seafood
Thoroughly smoked, dried, and boneless fish (e.g., catfish, stockfish pieces) and ground crayfish. Must be bone-dry with zero residual moisture.
Flours & Grains
White and yellow garri, yam flour (elubo), plantain flour, cassava flour, packaged semolina, and ground melon seeds (egusi).
Seeds & Soup Condiments
Ogbono seeds, dawadawa (locust beans in sealed pouches), dried scent leaf, dried bitterleaf, utazi, and dried vegetables.
Packaged Snacks & Spices
Chin-chin, plantain chips, kilishi (only commercially certified and shelf-stable where approved), and pepper soup spice blends.
2. Strict Packaging Rules & Vacuum-Sealing Protocol
UK Border Force and airline cargo handlers reject foodstuffs that emit strong odors or leak in transit. To guarantee your package is accepted:
- Vacuum Sealing: All fish, dried leaves, crayfish, and milled seeds must be vacuum-sealed in heavy-duty food bags. County Cargo provides free vacuum-sealing at our Lagos (Ladipo-Oshodi) and Abuja (Wuye Market) receiving hubs.
- Double-Layer Bagging: Flours (garri, elubo) should be placed in clear interior bags before being boxed.
- Sturdy Double-Wall Boxes: Avoid soft retail cartons. Use heavy-duty export boxes to prevent crushing under airline cargo pallets.
3. Prohibited Food Items Under UK Law
- Fresh, raw, or frozen beef, goat meat, chicken, or pork
- Bushmeat, wild game, or uncertified animal carcasses
- Fresh dairy, raw milk, unpasteurized butter, or soft cheeses
- Live plants, soil, bulbs, or uncertified farming seeds
Ready to Send Foodstuffs to the UK?
Drop off at our Lagos or Abuja hub for professional vacuum sealing & fast air cargo.
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