My inlaws live in Japan and send us a “care” package every now and again, loaded with lots of goodies; snacks, senbei rice crackers, nama-choco (a favorite of mine), Processed Avian Products Removedvideo tapes for Mason (NHK TV does some really nice shows), etc. This time, for Christmas, the package arrived with a couple of letters in it. The letters explained that the US government had decided to remove certain items because they are related to “Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza”. The letter said that items that might be removed from packages include:

  • Chicken based noodle soups (like Instant Ramen type things, I think)
  • Canned stable products (?),
  • Chicken products contained in foil pouches,
  • Bouillon cubes…

(See the copy of the letter for more details.)


Also inside the somewhat-less-than-full package, was a note explaining which items had been removed and why (what was the cause); saying the ingredients “contains meat not admitted by the US Department of Agriculture” and that the “prohibited materials removed and destroyed”. And what dangerous items were they? Food for our son made with pork meat and chicken extracts. EXTRACTS. Rice crackers made with chicken powder. POWDER.

So, I thought it might be nice to let others know that their shipments into the U.S. might not make it if it contains even the extracts or powder of chicken…

Anyway, have a SAFE and Merry Christmas… (and keep your chicken extracts at home!)

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