Woman fined $500 and 'treated like a criminal' by US customs over an apple

A woman is facing a £357 ($500) fine from the US customs agency discovering a free apple she had been given mid-flight in her bag.

Crystal Tadlock told US news station KDVR-TV flight attendants passed out the apples and she placed one in her carry-on to save for her flight from Minneapolis to Denver.

Upon landing, however, her bag was randomly searched by customs officials.

Ms Tadlock says the agent asked her if her trip to France was expensive and when she said yes he told her it was "about to get more expensive", telling her she would be charged $500 for the snack.

She said: "He had asked me if my trip to France was expensive and I said, 'Yeah.' I didn't really get why he was asking that question, and then he said 'It's about to get a lot more expensive after I charge you $500'.

"It's really unfortunate someone has to go through that and be treated like a criminal over a piece of fruit."

As a result of the row, Ms Tadlock also claims she has been told she will "be searched on every flight for the rest of her life" in and out of the US.

A Delta Air Lines spokesperson said: "We encourage our customers to follow US Customs and Border Protection protocols.

"The apple in question was part of an in-flight meal meant to be consumed on the aircraft."

Additional reporting by the Press Association