Is biltong legal in the United States? everything you need to know

Maybe you grew up on biltong in South Africa and now call the U.S. home. Maybe you tried it on a trip abroad and wanted to bring a bag back. Either way, the question comes up fast: can you actually get biltong here legally? The short answer is yes. You can buy and sell biltong in the United States, and you can make it at home. The catch is what happens when you try to carry it into the country from abroad. That's where it gets complicated, and that's what this guide breaks down. 

Can you legally buy and sell biltong in the U.S.?

Yes. Biltong made in the United States is legal to buy and sell in all fifty states.

The rule is straightforward. Beef products sold commercially have to come from a facility inspected by the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), and they have to meet federal labeling rules. Imported products must meet the same labeling requirements as domestically produced products, and all meat must be presented for inspection by FSIS. Brooklyn Biltong is made in the USA under those regulations, which is why we can ship our full range of biltong directly to your door and sell through retail nationwide.

So if you're buying American-made biltong, there's nothing to worry about. The legal questions only start when biltong crosses a border.

What happens when you bring biltong through customs?

This is where most of the confusion lives, and where a lot of bad advice floats around.

The key thing to understand: the rules don't care whether a country borders the U.S. or not. They care about the animal disease status of the country the meat came from. Many fresh, dried, and some canned meats are prohibited entry into the United States because of the continuing threat of foot-and-mouth disease, BSE (mad cow disease), and other animal diseases. The agencies that enforce this are USDA's APHIS and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

A few rules that actually matter:

• Declare everything. You must declare all agricultural and wildlife products when you enter the U.S., and keeping receipts and packaging to prove origin helps. Undeclared meat gets confiscated, and you can be fined.

• Country of origin drives the decision. USDA disease statuses change, so what was allowed last year from a given country may not be allowed today. South Africa has faced foot-and-mouth disease restrictions, so biltong carried in from there is often turned away.

• Even Canada and Mexico have rules. The "neighboring country" idea is a myth. From Canada, travelers may bring cured or dried beef for personal use, up to a 50-pound limit, but it has to be properly documented.

• Duty-free isn't a green light. Airport duty-free staff are not customs officers, and a product being sold in a duty-free shop does not mean it's cleared for U.S. entry.

Bottom line: biltong bought abroad is a gamble at the border, no matter how it's packaged or how it was made. If you're carrying some, the safest move is to enjoy it before your flight home rather than risk having it confiscated.

Can you make biltong at home legally?

Yes, and this is the easy part.

Homemade biltong sits in a different legal category than commercial biltong. You can make it for your own use with beef from any grocery store or butcher, and you don't need a meat-processing permit or a registered facility to do it.

What you do need is good food-safety practice: the right drying method, controlled temperature, and steady airflow the same care any home-cured meat demands. People have been making their own biltong this way for years. The ingredient list is short and the process is forgiving, so it's an easy thing to learn.

If you'd rather skip the wait, that's where we come in. Our biltong follows the traditional South African method we grew up respecting: grass-fed beef, a real vinegar cure, whole coriander and pepper, and slow air-drying. No sugar, no shortcuts. Not sure where to start? Our Variety Pack lets you taste the full lineup. The only difference from homemade is we make it here, so it ships fast and you don't have to worry about customs because it never crosses a border.

The practical takeaway

Three things to remember:

• Buying American-made biltong is simple. It's fully legal, USDA-regulated, and sold nationwide.

• Carrying biltong in from abroad is risky. It comes down to the country's disease status, not distance. Declare it, expect questions, and don't count on getting it through.

• Making it at home is allowed for personal use, as long as you follow safe drying and handling practices.

Authentic biltong has a long history worth honoring, wherever it's made. The good news is you no longer have to fly it across an ocean to enjoy the real thing.

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