FDA refusal charge
FDA refusal charge FOREIGN OB
Appears to contain foreign objects.
FOREIGN OB is the FDA import refusal charge for appears to contain foreign objects.; it cites sections 402(a)(3) and 801(a)(3) of the FD&C Act (adulteration). FDA recorded it on 174 refused shipment lines between October 2016 and August 21, 2025, most often for spices from India.
Data from FDA public records, last checked .
- 174
- refused shipment lines carry this charge
- 15
- countries of origin
- 1
- import alert names this charge
What FOREIGN OB means
SupplierRadar has not written a plain-English version of FOREIGN OB yet. FDA's own statement is quoted below.
- FD&C Act section
- 402(a)(3)801(a)(3)
- Classification
- adulteration
FDA's official statement
Copied unchanged from FDA's Refusal Charges reference table.
The article appears to consist in whole or in part of a filthy, putrid, or decomposed substance, or is otherwise unfit for food in that it appears to contain foreign objects.
Import alerts that name FOREIGN OB
The charge section of each alert names this code. An alert lists firms; a charge is the reason recorded on one refused line.
| Alert | Covers | Red | Green |
|---|---|---|---|
| 34-02 | Confectionery with non-nutritive components | 21 |
Countries with the most FOREIGN OB refusals
Shipment lines carrying FOREIGN OB, by country of origin.
Product categories with the most FOREIGN OB refusals
| Category | Lines | Share of FOREIGN OB |
|---|---|---|
| Spices, Flavors, and Salts | 120 | 69% |
| Candy without Chocolate, Candy Specialties, and Chewing Gum | 28 | 16% |
| Fruit and Fruit Products (pit, subtropical and tropical fruits) | 7 | 4% |
| Food Sweeteners (Nutritive) | 6 | 3% |
| Fishery/Seafood Products | 3 | 2% |
| Soft Drinks and Waters | 3 | 2% |
| Fruit and Fruit Products (berries, citrus and core fruits) | 2 | 1% |
| Gelatin, Rennet, Pudding Mixes, and Pie Fillings | 2 | 1% |
| Vegetables and Vegetable Products (legumes, leaf and stem, fruit vegetables) | 1 | 1% |
| Coffee and Tea | 1 | 1% |
Latest FOREIGN OB refusals
The 20 most recent refused lines, through August 21, 2025, each with its FDA source.
| Date | Firm | Product | Charges | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linyi County Weifeng Fruit Plantation Specialty CooperativeYuncheng, China | Chinese red date (jujubes, Ziziphus jujuba) (pit fruit) | FOREIGN OB | Source | |
| Luigi Zaini S.p.AMilan, Italy | Chocolate and chocolate covered candy, without nuts and fruit, n.e.c | FOREIGN OBIMBED OBJTNUTRIT LBL | Source | |
| Youko Co.Kyoto, Japan | Gel cups, fruit flavored | FOREIGN OB | Source | |
| Guangdong Dobby Biotechnology Co., Ltd.Dong Guan, China | Mixed/assorted soft candy without nuts, fruit or chocolate) | FOREIGN OB | Source | |
| Labixiaoxin (Fujian) Foods Industrial Company LimitedQuanzhou, China | Gelatin, flavored | FOREIGN OB | Source | |
| Han Shuo Food Co.,LtdDacun Township, Taiwan | Gel cups candy | FOREIGN OB | Source | |
| Han Shuo Food Co.,LtdDacun Township, Taiwan | Gel cups candy | FOREIGN OB | Source | |
| Han Shuo Food Co.,LtdDacun Township, Taiwan | Gel cups candy | FOREIGN OB | Source | |
| Peter Nathaniel CKigoma, Tanzania | Sardines (brisling, sprats, pilchards, etc.) | SOAKED/WETFOREIGN OBLACKS FIRM+2 | Source | |
| Azteca Confiteria S.A. de C.V.EL SALTO, Mexico | Gel candy on a stick candy | FOREIGN OB | Source | |
| Azteca Confiteria S.A. de C.V.EL SALTO, Mexico | Gel cups candy | FOREIGN OB | Source | |
| Orihiro Co. LtdTakasaki, Japan | Gel cups, fruit flavored | FOREIGN OBNO ENGLISH | Source | |
| New Farm Marketing and Processing CompanyRamallah, Palestine | Dates (pit fruit), (pit fruit) | FOREIGN OBFILTHY | Source | |
| New Farm Marketing and Processing CompanyRamallah, Palestine | Dates (pit fruit), (pit fruit) | FOREIGN OBFILTHY | Source | |
| Kore InternationalAhmedabad, India | Capsicums (cayenne chili, hot peppers), whole (spice) | FOREIGN OB | Source | |
| Guangxi Jiaxu Food Trading Co., Ltd.Liuzhou, China | Gel cups candy | FOREIGN OBNO ENGLISH | Source | |
| Siddhagiri SwasthyaIchalkaranji Tal Hatk, India | Pepper, black, ground, cracked (spice) | FOREIGN OBFILTHYSALMONELLA | Source | |
| Siddhagiri SwasthyaIchalkaranji Tal Hatk, India | Pepper,black, whole (spice) | FOREIGN OBFILTHYSALMONELLA | Source | |
| Phalada Agro Research Foundation Pvt. Ltd.Bangalore, India | Pepper, black, ground, cracked (spice) | FOREIGN OBFILTHY | Source | |
| Phalada Agro Research Foundation Pvt. Ltd.Bangalore, India | Pepper, black, ground, cracked (spice) | FOREIGN OBFILTHY | Source |
Questions about FOREIGN OB
- What does FOREIGN OB mean on an FDA refusal?
- FOREIGN OB is the refusal charge “Appears to contain foreign objects.”. FDA's official statement for the charge reads: “The article appears to consist in whole or in part of a filthy, putrid, or decomposed substance, or is otherwise unfit for food in that it appears to contain foreign objects.”
- What law does FOREIGN OB cite?
- FDA's refusal charge table cites sections 402(a)(3) and 801(a)(3) of the FD&C Act (adulteration) for FOREIGN OB, and classifies the charge as adulteration. The table is the Refusal Charges reference file that FDA publishes with its Data Dashboard.
- Which countries have the most FOREIGN OB refusals?
- As of October 25, 2026, the countries with the most FOREIGN OB refusal lines are India (125), China (17) and Taiwan (10). The full list with links is in the table on this page.
- Is there an FDA import alert for FOREIGN OB?
- Yes. One FDA import alert names FOREIGN OB as a charge code, including Import Alert 34-02 (Confectionery with non-nutritive components). An import alert is a list of firms; a charge code is the reason recorded on one refused shipment line.
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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.