Monthly digest
FDA import refusals and import alerts: March 2026
March 1, 2026 to March 31, 2026
In March 2026, FDA refused 970 imported shipment lines (down 11% vs February 2026), added 58 firm listings to import alerts and removed 0; Mexico had the most refusals and UNSAFE COL (color additive unsafe under section 721) was the most common charge (as of October 26, 2026).
Data from FDA public records, last checked .
- 970
- shipment lines refused in March 2026
- −11%
- vs February 2026
- 58
- firm listings added to import alerts
- 0
- firm listings removed
February 2026
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 2026Countries with the most FDA refusals in March 2026
Shipment lines refused, by country of origin. Each country links to its full refusal history.
Most common refusal charges in March 2026
FDA records one or more charge codes on every refused line, so counts can exceed the number of lines.
| Charge code | Meaning | Lines |
|---|---|---|
| UNSAFE COL | Color additive unsafe under section 721 | 227 |
| COLOR LBLG | Artificial coloring not declared | 215 |
| FILTHY | Filthy, putrid or decomposed substance | 155 |
| NUTRIT LBL | Nutrition information missing from label | 117 |
| LACKS N/C | Net quantity statement missing | 83 |
| PESTICIDE | Pesticide chemical residue | 83 |
| NO ENGLISH | Required label information not in English | 77 |
| UNAPPROVED | Unapproved new drug | 69 |
| SALMONELLA | Salmonella | 65 |
| FSVP VIO | Importer not in compliance with FSVP | 54 |
Product categories refused in March 2026
| Category | Lines | Share of month |
|---|---|---|
| Snack Food Items | 153 | 16% |
| Candy without Chocolate, Candy Specialties, and Chewing Gum | 105 | 11% |
| Fishery/Seafood Products | 88 | 9% |
| Vitamins, Minerals, Proteins, and Unconventional Dietary Specialties | 83 | 9% |
| Fruit and Fruit Products (pit, subtropical and tropical fruits) | 64 | 7% |
| Vegetables and Vegetable Products (legumes, leaf and stem, fruit vegetables) | 64 | 7% |
| Spices, Flavors, and Salts | 57 | 6% |
| Bakery Products, Doughs, Bakery Mixes, and Icings | 53 | 5% |
| Vegetables and Vegetable Products (root and tuber vegetables, fungi) | 34 | 4% |
| Nuts and Edible Seeds | 32 | 3% |
Import alert changes in March 2026
58 firm listings added and 0 removed. Alerts with changes, most changes first.
| Alert | Covers | Added | Removed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 99-05 | Raw agricultural products for pesticides | 17 | |
| 45-02 | Foods containing illegal and/or undeclared colors | 7 | |
| 99-08 | Processed human and animal foods for pesticides | 6 | |
| 99-42 | Foods due to heavy metal (toxic element) contamination | 5 | |
| 16-81 | Seafood products due to the presence of Salmonella | 4 | |
| 23-14 | Food products due to the presence of mycotoxins | 3 | |
| 99-39 | Imported food products that appear to be misbranded | 3 | |
| 99-38 | Low-acid canned foods or acidified foods due to inadequate | 2 | |
| 99-43 | Ready-to-eat human food products that appear to have been | 2 | |
| 99-45 | Food products that are or contain an unsafe food additive | 2 | |
| 16-120 | Fish and fishery products from foreign processors (mfrs.) | 1 | |
| 16-138 | Seafood products that appear to have been prepared, packed | 1 | |
| 20-07 | Juice from foreign processors not in compliance with juice | 1 | |
| 24-11 | Dried peppers from Mexico | 1 | |
| 99-19 | Food products due to the presence of Salmonella | 1 | |
| 99-22 | Foods containing undeclared major food allergens or foods | 1 | |
| 99-23 | Produce due to contamination with human pathogens | 1 |
Firms with the most FDA records in March 2026
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Sabritas Planta CelayaCelaya | Mexico | 64 |
| Hemmakvall ABLandskrona | Sweden | 44 |
| Comercializadora Pepsico Mexico,Ciudad De Mexico | Mexico | 38 |
| SABRITAS, S.de R.L. de C.V.Ciudad De Mexico | Mexico | 21 |
| Capital Foods Private LimitedBhilad | India | 18 |
| Productos tipicos de centroamerica sa de cvSan Salvador | El Salvador | 17 |
| Jellico Food Co, Ltd.Taichung City | Taiwan | 16 |
| Dasenlin Food Co., LtdJilin | China | 16 |
| Shanghai Jinmihui Industrial Co.,LtdSuzhou | China | 14 |
| Parayil ExportsMeenachil | India | 13 |
Questions about March 2026
- How many shipments did FDA refuse in March 2026?
- FDA refused 970 imported food shipment lines in March 2026, compared with 1,087 in February 2026. 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 2026?
- In March 2026, the countries with the most refused shipment lines were Mexico (230), India (159) and China (102).
- Which firms were added to FDA import alerts in March 2026?
- 58 firm listings were added to FDA import alerts in March 2026, most of them on Import Alert 99-05 (17), Import Alert 45-02 (7) and Import Alert 99-08 (6). Firms with the most FDA records among those active in the month include SABRITAS PLANTA CELAYA, Hemmakvall AB and Comercializadora Pepsico Mexico,. The alert changes are in the table on this page.
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