Dear FDA
Christopher L. Jorgensen
P.O. Box 93042
Des Moines, IA 50393
May 3, 2010
Food and Drug Administration
10903 New Hampshire Ave
Silver Spring, MD 20993-0002
Dear FDA,
I am trying to order a food product from overseas, but the company doesn’t ship to the US! I want Starly’s Spice Company’s “Satan’s Ashes,” which bills itself as the world’s hottest curry, but since they don’t ship Internationally I figured I’d ask someone in the area to drop some in the mail, but we can’t figure out which forms need filled out!
Will a standard Customs Declaration form be enough, or because it’s a food product is something else required? This isn’t a commercial transaction. The person is willing to send me the spice just to be nice (that and I think she wants pictures of me eating the stuff!).
Regardless, let me know what she needs to get this done. She lives in Scotland. I live in Iowa. I’d rather neither of us end up in jail or fined just because I want to eat something hot!
Sincerely,
Christopher L. Jorgensen
Reply:
Department of Health and Human Services
Public Health Service
Food and Drug Administration
College Park, MD
June 22, 2010
Christopher L. Jorgensen
P.O. Box 93042
Des Moines, LA 50393
Dear Mr. Jorgensen:
This is in response to your letter dated May 3, 2010, regarding food products being shipped from overseas for your personal use.
You must file a prior notice form. Please go to:
http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/PriorNoticeofImported
Foods/FilingPriorNotice/default.htm
Thank you for contacting the Food and Drug Administration.
Sincerely,
Robin Y. Smith
[signature font]
Consumer Affairs Specialist
Center for Safety and Applied Nutrition
Office of Food Defense, Communication & Emergency Response
Division of Education & Communication
Communication and Coordination Branch
Commentary:
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Legal:
I gave up on the idea of having a stranger run around trying to find a shop that sells this and tried ordering some “Satan’s Ashes” directly but they never arrived. Damn you internet! Oh well, you win some, you lose some. I probably would have eaten it if it had come through, so I can probably call this one a win. I’d still like to try some someday, but I’m not going to try buying it again.
I really wanted to make fun of these guys. I’m sure an American like me could handle the spice.
If you’re bored and want to send me something hot you can hit my PO Box:
Christopher L. Jorgensen
P.O. Box 93042
Des Moines, IA 50393
If it’s not red meat I may film myself eating it and post it online. And just to be clear by “something hot” I do not mean pictures of your mom. I already have enough of those (and she’s not that great).
p.s. Dear FDA, Des Moines is in IA not LA.
By Christopher L. Jorgensen
Website: http://jackassletters.com