AI agents for business finance: what they can and can't do
What AI agents can do in bookkeeping, close, collections and compliance today, where a person must stay in charge, and how to judge a product.
The short answer
You must declare egusi, ogbono, crayfish and any other food at a US airport; CBP says all plant and animal products, seeds and soup must be declared, and failing to declare can mean a civil penalty of up to $1,000 for a first non-commercial offence. Whether each item is then allowed in is decided at inspection. If the food is for selling rather than your own use, FDA prior notice also applies.
The short version
Nigerians coming back from home almost always carry food: egusi (melon seed), ogbono (bush mango kernel), ground and whole crayfish, dried pepper, uziza, stockfish. None of these is automatically banned or automatically allowed. The rule that never changes is that you declare them. CBP's agricultural page says travellers must declare meats, fruits, vegetables, plants, seeds, soil, animals, and plant and animal products, including soup, whether they are in checked bags, carry-on bags or a vehicle. On the customs declaration form (CBP Form 6059B) that means answering "Yes" to question 11.
What happens when you declare
Declaring does not mean you lose the food. It means a CBP agriculture specialist looks at it and decides. The CBP page says many plant products may enter without advance permission if they are declared, inspected and free of pests, depending on the country of origin. It also says plant parts intended for growing need a phytosanitary certificate, which is why whole seeds that could be planted get closer attention than milled or roasted products.
CBP's page does not give a ruling on egusi, ogbono or crayfish by name, and this article will not pretend it does. What it does say plainly:
- many fresh, dried and some canned meats are prohibited, and products containing restricted meat, such as beef broth, are usually prohibited;
- soil of any kind needs an advance permit, so clean off any earth on yam or vegetables;
- hunting trophies, game carcasses and hides are severely restricted; and
- undeclared prohibited items are confiscated and disposed of by agriculture specialists.
Item by item
| Item | What it is for inspection purposes | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Egusi (shelled melon seed) | a seed, a plant product | declare; the inspector checks it is clean, dry and pest-free |
| Ogbono (dried kernel or ground) | a dried plant product | declare; ground or well-dried product is easier to assess |
| Crayfish (dried, whole or ground) | an animal product (a crustacean), not meat or poultry | declare; CBP's page does not address it by name, so the inspector decides |
| Pepper soup or suya spice mix | a plant product, may contain other ingredients | declare; check the mix contains no meat or bouillon with meat |
| Stockfish, dried fish | an animal product | declare; see the separate article on dried fish |
Seasoning cubes and soup mixes deserve care, because CBP treats products containing restricted meat as usually prohibited. Read the ingredients of anything with "chicken" or "beef" in its name. For dried fish, see is dried fish from Nigeria allowed into the US; for meat, read why bushmeat is banned.
The cost of not declaring
CBP says civil penalties for failing to declare can reach $1,000 for a first-time offence involving non-commercial quantities, and that commercial violations are assessed at a much higher rate. The same penalties apply to prohibited products sent by international mail, so a parcel of food from a relative is not a way round the rule. A declared item that is refused costs you the item; an undeclared one can cost you the item, a fine and time in secondary inspection.
When your suitcase becomes an import
Many diaspora food businesses begin with bags packed for a shop or a church event. The FDA's prior notice rules (21 CFR Part 1, Subpart I) exclude food for an individual's personal use that travels with them, and home-made food sent as a non-business gift. Food carried by a person that is not for personal use is covered: it needs a confirmed prior notice, and a copy of the confirmation must travel with it. If the notice is missing, the food can be refused, and if you do not arrange for it to be held or exported before you leave the port, the FDA or CBP may destroy it.
Ask yourself one question at the airport: is this for my kitchen or for sale? If it is for sale, file notice in advance, and read how to file FDA prior notice. If you sell crayfish-based products, US labels must also name crustacean shellfish by species, because the FDA treats crustacean shellfish as one of nine major food allergens.
What to check before you pack
- Pack food in one bag, in clear or labelled packets, so it can be inspected quickly.
- Make sure seeds and kernels are dry, clean and free of insects; remove any soil.
- Leave out meat, bouillon with meat, and anything sold as bushmeat.
- Declare everything on the form and say so to the officer.
- If any of it is for resale, treat it as an import and file FDA prior notice before you fly.
Where Pryme fits
Families often ask a relative to buy foodstuff in the market before a trip. With a Pryme account opened from the US you can hold naira and send it to that relative in Nigeria, or Swap dollars to naira when you choose; the app shows the rate and the fee before you approve. See sending money and multicurrency accounts.
Questions people ask
Can I bring egusi to America?
You can carry it, but you must declare it. A CBP agriculture specialist inspects it and decides; clean, dry, pest-free seed is easier to admit. Never pack it undeclared.
Is crayfish allowed through US customs?
CBP's published page does not rule on dried crayfish by name. Declare it as an animal product and let the inspector decide; crayfish mixed with meat products is more likely to be refused.
What is the fine for not declaring food at a US airport?
CBP says civil penalties can reach $1,000 for a first non-commercial offence, and commercial violations are assessed at a much higher rate.
Can my family post ogbono to me from Nigeria?
The same declaration rules and penalties apply to international mail. Home-made non-business gifts are excluded from FDA prior notice, but bought foodstuff for sale is not.
Sources
- CBP: Bringing agricultural products into the United States (last modified 1 May 2024) · accessed Oct 2026
- eCFR: 21 CFR Part 1, Subpart I, Prior notice of imported food (current text) · accessed Oct 2026
- FDA: Food allergies (content current as of 11 Mar 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.