Monthly digest
FDA import refusals and import alerts: December 2020
December 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020
In December 2020, FDA refused 417 imported shipment lines (down 3% vs November 2020), added 18 firm listings to import alerts and removed 0; India had the most refusals and FILTHY (filthy, putrid or decomposed substance) was the most common charge (as of October 26, 2026).
Data from FDA public records, last checked .
- 417
- shipment lines refused in December 2020
- −3%
- vs November 2020
- 18
- firm listings added to import alerts
- 0
- firm listings removed
November 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.
January 2021Countries with the most FDA refusals in December 2020
Shipment lines refused, by country of origin. Each country links to its full refusal history.
Most common refusal charges in December 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 | 88 |
| SALMONELLA | Salmonella | 81 |
| NUTRIT LBL | Nutrition information missing from label | 52 |
| UNAPPROVED | Unapproved new drug | 46 |
| NO PROCESS | No scheduled process filed | 33 |
| NO ENGLISH | Required label information not in English | 32 |
| NEEDS FCE | Processor not registered for canned or acidified foods | 28 |
| LACKS FIRM | Manufacturer name and address missing | 27 |
| LIST INGRE | Ingredients not listed | 27 |
| PESTICIDE | Pesticide chemical residue | 25 |
Product categories refused in December 2020
| Category | Lines | Share of month |
|---|---|---|
| Fishery/Seafood Products | 78 | 19% |
| Vitamins, Minerals, Proteins, and Unconventional Dietary Specialties | 56 | 13% |
| Fruit and Fruit Products (pit, subtropical and tropical fruits) | 43 | 10% |
| Bakery Products, Doughs, Bakery Mixes, and Icings | 30 | 7% |
| Vegetables and Vegetable Products (legumes, leaf and stem, fruit vegetables) | 29 | 7% |
| Candy without Chocolate, Candy Specialties, and Chewing Gum | 25 | 6% |
| Spices, Flavors, and Salts | 23 | 6% |
| Pet and Laboratory Animal Foods | 14 | 3% |
| Whole Grains, Milled Grain Products, and Starch | 12 | 3% |
| Multiple Food Dinners, Gravies, Sauces, and Specialties | 12 | 3% |
Import alert changes in December 2020
18 firm listings added and 0 removed. Alerts with changes, most changes first.
| Alert | Covers | Added | Removed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 99-19 | Food products due to the presence of Salmonella | 4 | |
| 16-04 | Seafood products that appear to be misbranded | 2 | |
| 99-08 | Processed human and animal foods for pesticides | 2 | |
| 99-39 | Imported food products that appear to be misbranded | 2 | |
| 12-03 | Imported soft cheese and soft ripened cheese from France | 1 | |
| 16-18 | Raw shrimp | 1 | |
| 16-35 | Raw and cooked shrimp from India | 1 | |
| 22-01 | Cantaloupes from Mexico | 1 | |
| 45-02 | Foods containing illegal and/or undeclared colors | 1 | |
| 54-12 | Foods containing ginseng that fail to properly declare | 1 | |
| 54-16 | Products that are marketed as foods, including products | 1 | |
| 99-05 | Raw agricultural products for pesticides | 1 |
Firms with the most FDA records in December 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Kader Exports Private Limited, Unit IBhimavaram | India | 26 |
| Alghota FactoryDamascus | Syria | 19 |
| Merter Helva SanayiMaltepe | Turkey | 16 |
| Kader Exports Private Limited, Unit 04Pattanamarudur | India | 12 |
| Expando America S. de R.L.Leon | Mexico | 9 |
| Dongguang Huamei Food Co., Ltd.Dongguan | China | 7 |
| PARLE Products Private LimitedKhalapur | India | 6 |
| Chocolate Rey Amargo S.A. de C.V.Zapotlan El Grande | Mexico | 6 |
| Speedy Weight LossIlorin | Nigeria | 6 |
| Bikanervala Foods P LtdNew Delhi | India | 5 |
Questions about December 2020
- How many shipments did FDA refuse in December 2020?
- FDA refused 417 imported food shipment lines in December 2020, compared with 429 in November 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 December 2020?
- In December 2020, the countries with the most refused shipment lines were India (114), Mexico (57) and China (38).
- Which firms were added to FDA import alerts in December 2020?
- 18 firm listings were added to FDA import alerts in December 2020, most of them on Import Alert 99-19 (4), Import Alert 16-04 (2) and Import Alert 99-08 (2). Firms with the most FDA records among those active in the month include Kader Exports Private Limited, Unit I, ALGHOTA FACTORY and Merter Helva Sanayi. The alert changes are in the table on this page.
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