Canadian officers seized more than 16 kilograms of undeclared food at Toronto Pearson Airport. Here is what Pakistani travellers need to know about meat, desi ghee, milk powder and mithai.
A relative in Toronto asks you to bring mithai from Karachi. Someone else wants desi ghee. You add spices, perhaps some homemade food, and close the suitcase.
That familiar routine deserves one extra check.
On October 29, 2026, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) reported that detector dog Aggie intercepted more than 16 kilograms of undeclared food and animal products from a group of travellers arriving from Pakistan. The agency named goat feet, chicken, ghee and milk powder, and reported fines totalling CAD 1,350. Its statement appears in a public reproduction of its official social-media feed. The original post was not independently opened.
The short statement does not establish whether each individual product was prohibited. Canada does not ban all Pakistani food. The rules depend on ingredients, origin and processing. And travellers must declare all food, even if it is admissible.
Why Canadian officers inspect food
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) tries to prevent animal diseases and agricultural pests from entering Canada. A cooked dish may be safe to eat yet fail animal-health import rules. Requirements for food originating outside the United States can differ from those for American products.
Meat and chicken: cooking is not enough
Under the CFIA’s general personal-use rules for countries outside the United States, fresh, dried and cured meat is not permitted. Certain commercially prepared meat products may qualify when fully cooked, commercially sterile, shelf-stable and packed in suitable sealed commercial containers with identifying information.
Homemade chicken curry and goat trotters used in siri paye do not become eligible simply because someone cooked or froze them. Check the exact product before travel.
Desi ghee: a sealed jar is not a guarantee
In July 2025 the CFIA warned that butter oil and ghee from certain countries face restrictions because of foot-and-mouth disease and veterinary certification concerns. Ghee is dairy fat, not vegetable cooking oil. Commercial packaging alone does not override the rules.
The agency directs travellers to its Automated Import Reference System (AIRS) and commodity code 040590 3563 01. Pakistan-specific admissibility was not conclusively established in this review. Do not pack Pakistani dairy ghee unless you have confirmed the exact import conditions.
Ordinary milk powder is not infant formula
Qualifying sealed, shelf-stable infant formula has a specific allowance. Ordinary full-cream milk powder is not automatically covered by it. CFIA’s general dairy list for products from any country identifies items including pasteurized cheese and yogurt, but not ordinary milk powder.
This does not prove that every form of powdered milk is prohibited. It means you should check the product’s exact classification and origin in AIRS, rather than assuming that a factory-sealed packet is enough.
Can you bring Pakistani mithai?
Canada generally allows meat-free confectionery for personal use, subject to other applicable requirements, with a category limit of 20 kilograms. But mithai varies. Barfi can contain concentrated milk solids; other sweets use khoya or dairy ghee. Their ingredients may require closer scrutiny.
Neither “all Pakistani sweets are banned” nor “every box of mithai is permitted” is reliable advice. Keep ingredient labels and verify dairy-rich sweets before departure.
Quick reference for Pakistani travellers
| Food | General guidance |
|---|---|
| Tea, coffee and plain spices | Generally permitted, commonly subject to a 20 kg category limit |
| Meat-free biscuits and confectionery | Generally permitted, subject to ingredients and other requirements |
| Rice and grain-derived foods | Generally permitted under relevant category rules |
| Fresh fruit, vegetables, nuts and seeds | Check the specific item and country of origin |
| Homemade chicken or siri paye | Do not pack under the general meat rules |
| Dairy ghee and ordinary milk powder | Verify product-specific animal-health restrictions |
| Dairy-rich mithai | Check classification and ingredients; no blanket assurance |
A 20 kg limit is not blanket permission. A prohibited product remains prohibited even when you carry a small amount.
Declare food, even when it is allowed
CBSA requires travellers to declare food, plant and animal products. Officers can seize undeclared items and impose penalties. The Toronto agency statement reported CAD 1,350 in fines, but did not explain the calculation. Do not treat that figure as the standard penalty for every traveller.
Declaring a product does not guarantee admission. It does avoid treating silence as a substitute for a customs declaration.
Before leaving Karachi
Check the CFIA personal-use food guide, then use AIRS for uncertain products. Read the specific ghee notice. Keep ingredient labels, leave behind items requiring documents you lack, and declare all food on arrival.
Airport requirements also begin before boarding. My Pakistani airport immigration and offloading guide explains departure screening, while this report on Pakistan’s e-immigration plans examines another stage of the journey. Pakistani departure clearance and Canadian food admissibility are separate checks.
The box of sweets may be a thoughtful gift. Check the ingredients before it becomes an expensive airport problem.
Sources: Reproduction of CBSA’s October 29 statement; CBSA food declaration guidance; CFIA guidance linked above. Rules can change; check again before flying.