U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agriculture specialists at John F. Kennedy International Airport seized more than 20 pounds of swine meat, and 30 containers of edible bird's nests from a passenger arriving on a flight from China.

On Jan. 4, a passenger declared meat to a CBP agriculture specialist but indicated no other food products. During the subsequent examination, the meat was confirmed to be prohibited. In addition, 30 containers of a food product known as bird's nests were discovered. These real bird's nests are produced around the world as a delicacy for human consumption, authorities say.

Bird's nests are prohibited in passenger baggage as they lack the proper documentation and safeguards to insure they do not pose a risk to U.S. agriculture. CBP personnel seized all of the prohibited items, and say they will be destroyed.

Authorities issued the passenger a mitigated civil penalty for failing to declare the prohibited bird's nests.