There is a great article about bringing food items across customs into Canada here at the Globe and Mail.

I was saddened to see that cheese is allowed into Canada regardless of whether it is pasteurized or un-pasteurized. Had I known that three weeks ago guess who would have loaded up the bloody carryon with Pecorino and other treats! GRRRR

That WAS a really interesting article, Jerry! Thanks for posting.

But could you really have carried back much more of Italy in your luggage? Mind you, there is always room for pecorino!

I'd offer to be your cheese mule when I go to Italy in September, but I know that I can't be trusted around pecorino. I doubt your order would make it back intact!

Cheers,
Sandra

Good article, but did you read all the comments about it on the same page?!
I didn't know about the cheese rule; I had a grocer in Scotland refuse to sell me cheese once as he knew I was from Canada, and would have had it taken away at the airport!
The rules must have relaxed since then!!
I apply to be a cheese mule too, please.

I forget but doesn't the stuff need to be vacumn packed? I'm too lazy to check the Customs website. BTW don't trust newspapers to fact check

Plenty of pecorino and most other Italian cheeses in Toronto. Unless you want something from a small producer might be better to stuff the suitcase with something harder to find.

Sandra - had I known I would have mailed back 30 lbs of laundry rather than 20 lbs. That would ahve freed up room for my cheese allocation.

SJ - I always ignore the comments on the G and M articles. . . . for some reason them seem to bring out the wackos who 'know' someone or 'had' an experience. The 'discussion' always seems to result in Toronto bashing regardless of the topic.

Nick -I've had great success with cheese shops in TO and Ottawa for that matter. I've yet to find that amazing pecorino which is aged in straw (Cowboy pecorino they call it) or the one aged in Chestnut leaves. YUM Perhaps I have to keep looking.

Yes to the vacuum packing.