Monthly digest
FDA import refusals and import alerts: February 2023
February 1, 2023 to February 28, 2023
In February 2023, FDA refused 351 imported shipment lines (down 43% vs January 2023), added 46 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 .
- 351
- shipment lines refused in February 2023
- −43%
- vs January 2023
- 46
- firm listings added to import alerts
- 0
- firm listings removed
January 2023
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 2023Countries with the most FDA refusals in February 2023
Shipment lines refused, by country of origin. Each country links to its full refusal history.
Most common refusal charges in February 2023
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 | 93 |
| PESTICIDE | Pesticide chemical residue | 72 |
| SALMONELLA | Salmonella | 44 |
| NUTRIT LBL | Nutrition information missing from label | 41 |
| UNSAFE COL | Color additive unsafe under section 721 | 37 |
| COLOR LBLG | Artificial coloring not declared | 31 |
| POISONOUS | Poisonous or deleterious substance | 24 |
| UNAPPROVED | Unapproved new drug | 24 |
| LACKS N/C | Net quantity statement missing | 18 |
| NO ENGLISH | Required label information not in English | 18 |
Product categories refused in February 2023
| Category | Lines | Share of month |
|---|---|---|
| Fishery/Seafood Products | 48 | 14% |
| Vegetables and Vegetable Products (legumes, leaf and stem, fruit vegetables) | 43 | 12% |
| Vitamins, Minerals, Proteins, and Unconventional Dietary Specialties | 40 | 11% |
| Fruit and Fruit Products (pit, subtropical and tropical fruits) | 38 | 11% |
| Vegetables and Vegetable Products (root and tuber vegetables, fungi) | 30 | 9% |
| Spices, Flavors, and Salts | 26 | 7% |
| Fruit and Fruit Products (berries, citrus and core fruits) | 19 | 5% |
| Nuts and Edible Seeds | 19 | 5% |
| Bakery Products, Doughs, Bakery Mixes, and Icings | 16 | 5% |
| Snack Food Items | 16 | 5% |
Import alert changes in February 2023
46 firm listings added and 0 removed. Alerts with changes, most changes first.
| Alert | Covers | Added | Removed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 99-05 | Raw agricultural products for pesticides | 22 | |
| 99-08 | Processed human and animal foods for pesticides | 6 | |
| 45-02 | Foods containing illegal and/or undeclared colors | 3 | |
| 16-125 | Refrigerated (not frozen with proper labeling) raw fish | 2 | |
| 16-81 | Seafood products due to the presence of Salmonella | 2 | |
| 16-35 | Raw and cooked shrimp from India | 1 | |
| 16-39 | Ready-to-eat seafood for Listeria monocytogenes | 1 | |
| 21-11 | Ackees due to Hypoglycin A | 1 | |
| 21-17 | Papaya from Mexico | 1 | |
| 36-04 | Honey and blended syrup due to unsafe drug residues | 1 | |
| 54-12 | Foods containing ginseng that fail to properly declare | 1 | |
| 99-21 | Food products containing undeclared added sulfiting agents | 1 | |
| 99-22 | Foods containing undeclared major food allergens or foods | 1 | |
| 99-23 | Produce due to contamination with human pathogens | 1 | |
| 99-39 | Imported food products that appear to be misbranded | 1 | |
| 99-42 | Foods due to heavy metal (toxic element) contamination | 1 |
Firms with the most FDA records in February 2023
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Mei Yuan Preserved Co.,LTDYi Lan City | Taiwan | 9 |
| Jiangsu Kang Sheng Agriculture Development Co., Ltd.Xuzhou | China | 8 |
| Food Express InternationalGujarat | India | 8 |
| Cerratina ServiziLanciano | Italy | 7 |
| C.K Frozen Foods Yangon Company LimitedYangon | Myanmar | 6 |
| Comercializadora PepsicoCiudad De Mexico | Mexico | 6 |
| Fortune International EnterpriseHalol | India | 6 |
| Ticoy Foods, S.A. de C.V.Jesus Maria | Mexico | 6 |
| Barcel, S.A. de C.VPueblo Infonavit Lerma | Mexico | 4 |
| Shree Bhagwati Flour & Foods PVT. LTDChangodar | India | 4 |
Questions about February 2023
- How many shipments did FDA refuse in February 2023?
- FDA refused 351 imported food shipment lines in February 2023, compared with 618 in January 2023. 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 2023?
- In February 2023, the countries with the most refused shipment lines were Mexico (85), India (58) and China (27).
- Which firms were added to FDA import alerts in February 2023?
- 46 firm listings were added to FDA import alerts in February 2023, most of them on Import Alert 99-05 (22), Import Alert 99-08 (6) and Import Alert 45-02 (3). Firms with the most FDA records among those active in the month include Mei Yuan Preserved Co.,LTD, Jiangsu Kang Sheng Agriculture Development Co., Ltd. and FOOD EXPRESS INTERNATIONAL. The alert changes are in the table on this page.
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