Monthly digest
FDA import refusals and import alerts: March 2023
March 1, 2023 to March 31, 2023
In March 2023, FDA refused 571 imported shipment lines (up 63% vs February 2023), added 102 firm listings to import alerts and removed 0; India 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 .
- 571
- shipment lines refused in March 2023
- +63%
- vs February 2023
- 102
- firm listings added to import alerts
- 0
- firm listings removed
February 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.
April 2023Countries with the most FDA refusals in March 2023
Shipment lines refused, by country of origin. Each country links to its full refusal history.
Most common refusal charges in March 2023
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 | 98 |
| FILTHY | Filthy, putrid or decomposed substance | 87 |
| SALMONELLA | Salmonella | 73 |
| PESTICIDE | Pesticide chemical residue | 62 |
| UNSAFE COL | Color additive unsafe under section 721 | 61 |
| NO ENGLISH | Required label information not in English | 58 |
| HEALTH C | Unauthorized nutrient content or health claim | 41 |
| UNAPPROVED | Unapproved new drug | 37 |
| COLOR LBLG | Artificial coloring not declared | 35 |
| LACKS FIRM | Manufacturer name and address missing | 35 |
Product categories refused in March 2023
| Category | Lines | Share of month |
|---|---|---|
| Vitamins, Minerals, Proteins, and Unconventional Dietary Specialties | 121 | 21% |
| Fishery/Seafood Products | 76 | 13% |
| Bakery Products, Doughs, Bakery Mixes, and Icings | 48 | 8% |
| Spices, Flavors, and Salts | 45 | 8% |
| Vegetables and Vegetable Products (root and tuber vegetables, fungi) | 41 | 7% |
| Fruit and Fruit Products (pit, subtropical and tropical fruits) | 38 | 7% |
| Snack Food Items | 37 | 6% |
| Fruit and Fruit Products (berries, citrus and core fruits) | 29 | 5% |
| Candy without Chocolate, Candy Specialties, and Chewing Gum | 27 | 5% |
| Vegetables and Vegetable Products (legumes, leaf and stem, fruit vegetables) | 25 | 4% |
Import alert changes in March 2023
102 firm listings added and 0 removed. Alerts with changes, most changes first.
| Alert | Covers | Added | Removed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 99-45 | Food products that are or contain an unsafe food additive | 38 | |
| 99-05 | Raw agricultural products for pesticides | 18 | |
| 45-02 | Foods containing illegal and/or undeclared colors | 11 | |
| 99-39 | Imported food products that appear to be misbranded | 9 | |
| 99-35 | Fresh produce that appears to have been prepared, packed | 4 | |
| 16-74 | Uneviscerated fish or partially eviscerated fish | 3 | |
| 99-19 | Food products due to the presence of Salmonella | 3 | |
| 99-23 | Produce due to contamination with human pathogens | 3 | |
| 21-07 | Tamarind and tamarind products (fresh, frozen, dried, and/or | 2 | |
| 99-08 | Processed human and animal foods for pesticides | 2 | |
| 99-22 | Foods containing undeclared major food allergens or foods | 2 | |
| 16-04 | Seafood products that appear to be misbranded | 1 | |
| 16-35 | Raw and cooked shrimp from India | 1 | |
| 16-81 | Seafood products due to the presence of Salmonella | 1 | |
| 54-16 | Products that are marketed as foods, including products | 1 | |
| 99-37 | Low-acid canned foods and acidified foods without filed | 1 | |
| 99-42 | Foods due to heavy metal (toxic element) contamination | 1 | |
| 99-46 | Imported human foods due to filth | 1 |
Firms with the most FDA records in March 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Meridian Express LimitedAccra | Ghana | 39 |
| Guangzhou Aokun Food Co.,LtdGuangzhou | China | 18 |
| Believe SupplementsBlainville | Canada | 18 |
| Ramdev Food Products Pvt LtdChangodar | India | 16 |
| PT Kelola Biru HJakarta | Indonesia | 11 |
| Mahashian Di Hatti Pvt. Ltd.Gurgram | India | 11 |
| Binh Tay Food CompanyHo Chi Minh | Vietnam | 8 |
| Comercializadora Pepsico Mexico,Ciudad De Mexico | Mexico | 7 |
| Pham Thi Mai ChiHo Chi Minh | Vietnam | 7 |
| Vitex Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd.Eastern Creek | Australia | 7 |
Questions about March 2023
- How many shipments did FDA refuse in March 2023?
- FDA refused 571 imported food shipment lines in March 2023, compared with 351 in February 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 March 2023?
- In March 2023, the countries with the most refused shipment lines were India (98), Mexico (63) and China (46).
- Which firms were added to FDA import alerts in March 2023?
- 102 firm listings were added to FDA import alerts in March 2023, most of them on Import Alert 99-45 (38), Import Alert 99-05 (18) and Import Alert 45-02 (11). Firms with the most FDA records among those active in the month include MERIDIAN EXPRESS LIMITED, GUANGZHOU AOKUN FOOD CO.,LTD and BELIEVE SUPPLEMENTS. 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.