Monthly digest
FDA import refusals and import alerts: December 2019
December 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019
In December 2019, FDA refused 593 imported shipment lines (up 23% vs November 2019), added 47 firm listings to import alerts and removed 0; China had the most refusals and FILTHY (filthy, putrid or decomposed substance) was the most common charge (as of October 25, 2026).
Data from FDA public records, last checked .
- 593
- shipment lines refused in December 2019
- +23%
- vs November 2019
- 47
- firm listings added to import alerts
- 0
- firm listings removed
November 2019
Counts can rise after publication because FDA's refusal data includes only final actions and is updated weekly. We recompute every month on each run.
January 2020Countries with the most FDA refusals in December 2019
Shipment lines refused, by country of origin. Each country links to its full refusal history.
| Country | Lines | Share of month |
|---|---|---|
| China | 61 | 10% |
| Mexico | 59 | 10% |
| Brazil | 55 | 9% |
| India | 49 | 8% |
| Vietnam | 35 | 6% |
| Canada | 33 | 6% |
| Italy | 31 | 5% |
| Egypt | 25 | 4% |
| El Salvador | 17 | 3% |
| South Korea | 16 | 3% |
Most common refusal charges in December 2019
FDA records one or more charge codes on every refused line, so counts can exceed the number of lines.
| Charge code | Meaning | Lines |
|---|---|---|
| FILTHY | Filthy, putrid or decomposed substance | 133 |
| PESTICIDE | Pesticide chemical residue | 83 |
| NUTRIT LBL | Nutrition information missing from label | 79 |
| LIST INGRE | Ingredients not listed | 70 |
| INCONSPICU | Required information not conspicuous | 58 |
| LACKS N/C | Net quantity statement missing | 58 |
| NO ENGLISH | Required label information not in English | 57 |
| SALMONELLA | Salmonella | 41 |
| NO PROCESS | No scheduled process filed | 37 |
| UNSAFE COL | Color additive unsafe under section 721 | 37 |
Product categories refused in December 2019
| Category | Lines | Share of month |
|---|---|---|
| Fishery/Seafood Products | 128 | 22% |
| Fruit and Fruit Products (pit, subtropical and tropical fruits) | 63 | 11% |
| Vegetables and Vegetable Products (legumes, leaf and stem, fruit vegetables) | 52 | 9% |
| Vegetables and Vegetable Products (root and tuber vegetables, fungi) | 40 | 7% |
| Vitamins, Minerals, Proteins, and Unconventional Dietary Specialties | 31 | 5% |
| Bakery Products, Doughs, Bakery Mixes, and Icings | 30 | 5% |
| Whole Grains, Milled Grain Products, and Starch | 26 | 4% |
| Spices, Flavors, and Salts | 26 | 4% |
| Candy without Chocolate, Candy Specialties, and Chewing Gum | 26 | 4% |
| Nuts and Edible Seeds | 22 | 4% |
Import alert changes in December 2019
47 firm listings added and 0 removed. Alerts with changes, most changes first.
| Alert | Covers | Added | Removed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 45-02 | Foods containing illegal and/or undeclared colors | 9 | |
| 99-05 | Raw agricultural products for pesticides | 9 | |
| 99-08 | Processed human and animal foods for pesticides | 4 | |
| 99-39 | Imported food products that appear to be misbranded | 4 | |
| 16-81 | Seafood products due to the presence of Salmonella | 3 | |
| 99-19 | Food products due to the presence of Salmonella | 3 | |
| 99-32 | Human and animal food products from foreign establishments | 3 | |
| 16-124 | Aquaculture seafood products due to unapproved drugs | 2 | |
| 99-23 | Produce due to contamination with human pathogens | 2 | |
| 16-105 | Fish and fishery products from specific | 1 | |
| 16-35 | Raw and cooked shrimp from India | 1 | |
| 16-39 | Ready-to-eat seafood for Listeria monocytogenes | 1 | |
| 24-11 | Dried peppers from Mexico | 1 | |
| 36-04 | Honey and blended syrup due to unsafe drug residues | 1 | |
| 99-22 | Foods containing undeclared major food allergens or foods | 1 | |
| 99-35 | Fresh produce that appears to have been prepared, packed | 1 | |
| 99-38 | Low-acid canned foods or acidified foods due to inadequate | 1 |
Firms with the most FDA records in December 2019
Counts are FDA records dated in the month (refusals, import alert listings and other events), not a ranking of quality.
| Firm | Country | Records in month |
|---|---|---|
| Prime Seafood LtdCaravelas | Brazil | 28 |
| Andybela IncAncaster | Canada | 25 |
| Al-Maleka For Olives & Food InduAl Gharbiyah | Egypt | 22 |
| Slitti Luciani e C. SncMonsummano Terme | Italy | 13 |
| Blanke Industria de Pescado Ltda.Recife | Brazil | 13 |
| Hubei Beststore Electronic Commerce Co LtdWuhan | China | 13 |
| Fratelli Polli S.p.A.Monsummano Terme | Italy | 12 |
| Productos Alimenticios Diana S.A. de C.V.Soyapango | El Salvador | 10 |
| Myafrimall GroceryLagos | Nigeria | 10 |
| Kohyo Co., Ltd.Yokkaichi | Japan | 7 |
Questions about December 2019
- How many shipments did FDA refuse in December 2019?
- FDA refused 593 imported food shipment lines in December 2019, compared with 484 in November 2019. Counts can rise after publication because FDA's refusal data includes only final actions and is updated weekly.
- Which countries had the most FDA refusals in December 2019?
- In December 2019, the countries with the most refused shipment lines were China (61), Mexico (59) and Brazil (55).
- Which firms were added to FDA import alerts in December 2019?
- 47 firm listings were added to FDA import alerts in December 2019, most of them on Import Alert 45-02 (9), Import Alert 99-05 (9) and Import Alert 99-08 (4). Firms with the most FDA records among those active in the month include Prime Seafood Ltd, ANDYBELA INC and AL-MALEKA FOR OLIVES & FOOD INDU. The alert changes are in the table on this page.
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