Monthly digest
FDA import refusals and import alerts: February 2020
February 1, 2020 to February 29, 2020
In February 2020, FDA refused 479 imported shipment lines (down 23% vs January 2020), added 47 firm listings to import alerts and removed 0; Mexico 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 .
- 479
- shipment lines refused in February 2020
- −23%
- vs January 2020
- 47
- firm listings added to import alerts
- 0
- firm listings removed
January 2020
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.
March 2020Countries with the most FDA refusals in February 2020
Shipment lines refused, by country of origin. Each country links to its full refusal history.
Most common refusal charges in February 2020
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 | 105 |
| PESTICIDE | Pesticide chemical residue | 74 |
| NUTRIT LBL | Nutrition information missing from label | 68 |
| SALMONELLA | Salmonella | 41 |
| UNSAFE COL | Color additive unsafe under section 721 | 36 |
| LACKS FIRM | Manufacturer name and address missing | 34 |
| NO ENGLISH | Required label information not in English | 34 |
| COLOR LBLG | Artificial coloring not declared | 28 |
| FALSE | False or misleading labeling | 28 |
| LIST INGRE | Ingredients not listed | 24 |
Product categories refused in February 2020
| Category | Lines | Share of month |
|---|---|---|
| Fishery/Seafood Products | 96 | 20% |
| Vitamins, Minerals, Proteins, and Unconventional Dietary Specialties | 65 | 14% |
| Fruit and Fruit Products (pit, subtropical and tropical fruits) | 61 | 13% |
| Candy without Chocolate, Candy Specialties, and Chewing Gum | 31 | 6% |
| Vegetables and Vegetable Products (legumes, leaf and stem, fruit vegetables) | 28 | 6% |
| Multiple Food Dinners, Gravies, Sauces, and Specialties | 25 | 5% |
| Snack Food Items | 20 | 4% |
| Vegetables and Vegetable Products (root and tuber vegetables, fungi) | 19 | 4% |
| Fruit and Fruit Products (berries, citrus and core fruits) | 17 | 4% |
| Spices, Flavors, and Salts | 17 | 4% |
Import alert changes in February 2020
47 firm listings added and 0 removed. Alerts with changes, most changes first.
| Alert | Covers | Added | Removed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 99-05 | Raw agricultural products for pesticides | 11 | |
| 99-08 | Processed human and animal foods for pesticides | 7 | |
| 45-02 | Foods containing illegal and/or undeclared colors | 6 | |
| 99-31 | Food products due to the presence of melamine and/or | 6 | |
| 16-125 | Refrigerated (not frozen with proper labeling) raw fish | 4 | |
| 99-37 | Low-acid canned foods and acidified foods without filed | 2 | |
| 16-04 | Seafood products that appear to be misbranded | 1 | |
| 16-05 | Mahimahi from Ecuador and Taiwan due to histamine | 1 | |
| 16-120 | Fish and fishery products from foreign processors (mfrs.) | 1 | |
| 16-124 | Aquaculture seafood products due to unapproved drugs | 1 | |
| 16-127 | All seafood due to chloramphenicol | 1 | |
| 16-18 | Raw shrimp | 1 | |
| 16-39 | Ready-to-eat seafood for Listeria monocytogenes | 1 | |
| 16-74 | Uneviscerated fish or partially eviscerated fish | 1 | |
| 99-19 | Food products due to the presence of Salmonella | 1 | |
| 99-38 | Low-acid canned foods or acidified foods due to inadequate | 1 | |
| 99-39 | Imported food products that appear to be misbranded | 1 |
Firms with the most FDA records in February 2020
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Forza Vitale Italia S.r.l.Corato | Italy | 16 |
| Boiron Freres SASChateauneuf-Sur-Isere | France | 15 |
| Ocean FisheriesAjman | United Arab Emirates | 14 |
| Namprik Mae-Anong Co., Ltd.Bangkok | Thailand | 14 |
| Molino e Pastificio de Cecco S.p.A. PescaraOrtona | Italy | 11 |
| Tonic Life S de RLIrapuato | Mexico | 11 |
| Evertrust Foods Co., Ltd.Cam Ranh | Vietnam | 11 |
| Bikaji Foods International Ltd.Bikaner | India | 9 |
| Bosco Intl TradingSudbury | United Kingdom | 9 |
| Barcel, S.A. de C.VPueblo Infonavit Lerma | Mexico | 7 |
Questions about February 2020
- How many shipments did FDA refuse in February 2020?
- FDA refused 479 imported food shipment lines in February 2020, compared with 622 in January 2020. 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 February 2020?
- In February 2020, the countries with the most refused shipment lines were Mexico (88), India (47) and China (37).
- Which firms were added to FDA import alerts in February 2020?
- 47 firm listings were added to FDA import alerts in February 2020, most of them on Import Alert 99-05 (11), Import Alert 99-08 (7) and Import Alert 45-02 (6). Firms with the most FDA records among those active in the month include Forza Vitale Italia S.r.l., Boiron Freres SAS and Ocean Fisheries. The alert changes are in the table on this page.
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