Monthly digest
FDA import refusals and import alerts: March 2020
March 1, 2020 to March 31, 2020
In March 2020, FDA refused 695 imported shipment lines (up 45% vs February 2020), added 41 firm listings to import alerts and removed 0; Mexico had the most refusals and NUTRIT LBL (nutrition information missing from label) was the most common charge (as of October 26, 2026).
Data from FDA public records, last checked .
- 695
- shipment lines refused in March 2020
- +45%
- vs February 2020
- 41
- firm listings added to import alerts
- 0
- firm listings removed
February 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.
April 2020Countries with the most FDA refusals in March 2020
Shipment lines refused, by country of origin. Each country links to its full refusal history.
| Country | Lines | Share of month |
|---|---|---|
| Mexico | 141 | 20% |
| China | 83 | 12% |
| India | 63 | 9% |
| France | 36 | 5% |
| Thailand | 36 | 5% |
| Canada | 27 | 4% |
| Italy | 25 | 4% |
| United Kingdom | 19 | 3% |
| Taiwan | 18 | 3% |
| South Korea | 17 | 2% |
Most common refusal charges in March 2020
FDA records one or more charge codes on every refused line, so counts can exceed the number of lines.
| Charge code | Meaning | Lines |
|---|---|---|
| NUTRIT LBL | Nutrition information missing from label | 149 |
| PESTICIDE | Pesticide chemical residue | 116 |
| FILTHY | Filthy, putrid or decomposed substance | 95 |
| LACKS N/C | Net quantity statement missing | 75 |
| COLOR LBLG | Artificial coloring not declared | 67 |
| LIST INGRE | Ingredients not listed | 67 |
| NO ENGLISH | Required label information not in English | 50 |
| UNSAFE COL | Color additive unsafe under section 721 | 50 |
| FALSE | False or misleading labeling | 43 |
| LACKS FIRM | Manufacturer name and address missing | 39 |
Product categories refused in March 2020
| Category | Lines | Share of month |
|---|---|---|
| Fishery/Seafood Products | 108 | 16% |
| Vitamins, Minerals, Proteins, and Unconventional Dietary Specialties | 65 | 9% |
| Fruit and Fruit Products (pit, subtropical and tropical fruits) | 53 | 8% |
| Snack Food Items | 49 | 7% |
| Vegetables and Vegetable Products (legumes, leaf and stem, fruit vegetables) | 44 | 6% |
| Bakery Products, Doughs, Bakery Mixes, and Icings | 42 | 6% |
| Whole Grains, Milled Grain Products, and Starch | 31 | 4% |
| Fruit and Fruit Products (berries, citrus and core fruits) | 29 | 4% |
| Candy without Chocolate, Candy Specialties, and Chewing Gum | 29 | 4% |
| Spices, Flavors, and Salts | 28 | 4% |
Import alert changes in March 2020
41 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 | 13 | |
| 99-05 | Raw agricultural products for pesticides | 7 | |
| 99-08 | Processed human and animal foods for pesticides | 6 | |
| 99-39 | Imported food products that appear to be misbranded | 3 | |
| 16-81 | Seafood products due to the presence of Salmonella | 2 | |
| 99-19 | Food products due to the presence of Salmonella | 2 | |
| 99-38 | Low-acid canned foods or acidified foods due to inadequate | 2 | |
| 16-129 | Seafood products due to nitrofurans | 1 | |
| 16-35 | Raw and cooked shrimp from India | 1 | |
| 21-17 | Papaya from Mexico | 1 | |
| 36-04 | Honey and blended syrup due to unsafe drug residues | 1 | |
| 99-29 | All vegetable protein products from China for animal | 1 | |
| 99-32 | Human and animal food products from foreign establishments | 1 |
Firms with the most FDA records in March 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Comercializadora PepsicoCiudad De Mexico | Mexico | 47 |
| Boiron Freres SASChateauneuf-Sur-Isere | France | 33 |
| 9328-4545 Quebec IncBlainville | Canada | 19 |
| Premium Seafood Sp. z o.o.Darlowo | Poland | 17 |
| Tesa SRLFoligno | Italy | 12 |
| Solution NineMueang Samut Prakan | Thailand | 12 |
| Mondelez Schweiz Production GmbHBern | Switzerland | 11 |
| Namprik Mae-Anong Co., Ltd.Bangkok | Thailand | 11 |
| Three Squirrels Inc.Wuhu | China | 11 |
| Zhongjing Wanxi Pharmaceutical CoNanyang | China | 11 |
Questions about March 2020
- How many shipments did FDA refuse in March 2020?
- FDA refused 695 imported food shipment lines in March 2020, compared with 479 in February 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 March 2020?
- In March 2020, the countries with the most refused shipment lines were Mexico (141), China (83) and India (63).
- Which firms were added to FDA import alerts in March 2020?
- 41 firm listings were added to FDA import alerts in March 2020, most of them on Import Alert 45-02 (13), Import Alert 99-05 (7) and Import Alert 99-08 (6). Firms with the most FDA records among those active in the month include COMERCIALIZADORA PEPSICO, Boiron Freres SAS and 9328-4545 QUEBEC INC. The alert changes are in the table on this page.
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