Monthly digest
FDA import refusals and import alerts: September 2020
In September 2020, FDA refused 318 imported shipment lines (up 7% vs August 2020), added 18 firm listings to import alerts and removed 0; China had the most refusals and SALMONELLA (Salmonella) was the most common charge (as of October 25, 2026).
Data from FDA public records, last checked .
- 318
- shipment lines refused in September 2020
- +7%
- vs August 2020
- 18
- firm listings added to import alerts
- 0
- firm listings removed
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.
October 2020Countries with the most FDA refusals in September 2020
Most common refusal charges in September 2020
| Charge code | Meaning | Lines |
|---|---|---|
| SALMONELLA | Salmonella | 51 |
| FILTHY | Filthy, putrid or decomposed substance | 47 |
| NUTRIT LBL | Nutrition information missing from label | 44 |
| PESTICIDE | Pesticide chemical residue | 37 |
| FALSE | False or misleading labeling | 30 |
| POISONOUS | Poisonous or deleterious substance | 28 |
| UNSFDIETSP | Dietary ingredient without safety assurance | 28 |
| LIST INGRE | Ingredients not listed | 27 |
| MELAMINE | Melamine | 21 |
| UNAPPROVED | Unapproved new drug | 19 |
Product categories refused in September 2020
| Category | Lines | Share of month |
|---|---|---|
| Vitamins, Minerals, Proteins, and Unconventional Dietary Specialties | 63 | 20% |
| Fishery/Seafood Products | 34 | 11% |
| Fruit and Fruit Products (pit, subtropical and tropical fruits) | 25 | 8% |
| Snack Food Items | 22 | 7% |
| Bakery Products, Doughs, Bakery Mixes, and Icings | 21 | 7% |
| Fruit and Fruit Products (berries, citrus and core fruits) | 21 | 7% |
| Vegetables and Vegetable Products (legumes, leaf and stem, fruit vegetables) | 20 | 6% |
| Macaroni and Noodle Products | 16 | 5% |
| Pet and Laboratory Animal Foods | 14 | 4% |
| Spices, Flavors, and Salts | 11 | 3% |
Import alert changes in September 2020
| Alert | Covers | Added | Removed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 99-42 | Foods due to heavy metal (toxic element) contamination | 5 | |
| 99-19 | Food products due to the presence of Salmonella | 3 | |
| 16-35 | Raw and cooked shrimp from India | 2 | |
| 99-29 | All vegetable protein products from China for animal | 2 | |
| 16-120 | Fish and fishery products from foreign processors (mfrs.) | 1 | |
| 16-81 | Seafood products due to the presence of Salmonella | 1 | |
| 21-17 | Papaya from Mexico | 1 | |
| 99-08 | Processed human and animal foods for pesticides | 1 | |
| 99-23 | Produce due to contamination with human pathogens | 1 | |
| 99-35 | Fresh produce that appears to have been prepared, packed | 1 |
Firms with the most FDA records in September 2020
| Firm | Country | Records in month |
|---|---|---|
| Samyang Foods Co LtdSeoul | South Korea | 16 |
| Custom Pet SASBogota | Colombia | 13 |
| Kean Soft DrinksLimassol | Cyprus | 12 |
| Corporativo Serysi, S. De R.L. De C.V.Zapopan | Mexico | 8 |
| Productora Nacional de Alimentos Pronal S.A.SDosquebradas | Colombia | 8 |
| Perishables Jamaica LimitedKingston | Jamaica | 7 |
| Cooperativa Agricola IL FortetoVicchio | Italy | 7 |
| Philicon-97 S.A.Plovdiv | Bulgaria | 6 |
| Maricultura Pescados Com. Imp. e Exp. Ltda.Acarau | Brazil | 6 |
| Beijing Daoxiangsifang Food Limited CompanyTongzhou | China | 6 |
Questions about September 2020
- How many shipments did FDA refuse in September 2020?
- FDA refused 318 imported food shipment lines in September 2020, compared with 298 in August 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 September 2020?
- In September 2020, the countries with the most refused shipment lines were China (52), Mexico (45) and Indonesia (36).
- Which firms were added to FDA import alerts in September 2020?
- 18 firm listings were added to FDA import alerts in September 2020, most of them on Import Alert 99-42 (5), Import Alert 99-19 (3) and Import Alert 16-35 (2). Firms with the most FDA records among those active in the month include Samyang Foods Co Ltd, Custom Pet SAS and Kean Soft Drinks. The alert changes are in the table on this page.
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SupplierRadar is not affiliated with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Data comes from public FDA records and may contain errors. This is not legal advice; importers remain responsible for their supplier evaluations.