FDA refusal charge
FDA refusal charge NEEDS ACID
NEEDS ACID is the FDA import refusal charge for appears to have been prepared, packed, or held under insanitary conditions whereby it may have become…; it cites sections 402(a)(4) and 801(a)(3) of the FD&C Act (adulteration). FDA recorded it on 244 refused shipment lines between October 2016 and August 12, 2026, most often for noodles and pasta from Italy.
Data from FDA public records, last checked .
- 244
- refused shipment lines carry this charge
- 24
- countries of origin
- 1
- import alert names this charge
What NEEDS ACID means
SupplierRadar has not written a plain-English version of NEEDS ACID yet. FDA's own statement is quoted below.
- FD&C Act section
- 402(a)(4)801(a)(3)
- Classification
- adulteration
FDA's official statement
The article is subject to refusal of admission pursuant to Section 801(a)(3) in that it appears to have been prepared, packed, or held under insanitary conditions whereby it may have become contaminated with filth, or whereby it may have been rendered injurious to health due to inadequate acidification.
Import alerts that name NEEDS ACID
| Alert | Covers | Red | Green |
|---|---|---|---|
| 99-38 | Low-acid canned/acidified foods: inadequate process control | 167 |
Countries with the most NEEDS ACID refusals
| Country | Lines | Share of NEEDS ACID |
|---|---|---|
| Italy | 74 | 30% |
| Philippines | 48 | 20% |
| China | 27 | 11% |
| Portugal | 25 | 10% |
| South Korea | 12 | 5% |
| Poland | 8 | 3% |
| Senegal | 8 | 3% |
| Thailand | 7 | 3% |
| Mexico | 5 | 2% |
| Pakistan | 4 | 2% |
Product categories with the most NEEDS ACID refusals
| Category | Lines | Share of NEEDS ACID |
|---|---|---|
| Macaroni and Noodle Products | 73 | 30% |
| Fruit and Fruit Products (pit, subtropical and tropical fruits) | 45 | 18% |
| Vegetables and Vegetable Products (legumes, leaf and stem, fruit vegetables) | 43 | 18% |
| Vegetables and Vegetable Products (root and tuber vegetables, fungi) | 31 | 13% |
| Fishery/Seafood Products | 16 | 7% |
| Multiple Food Dinners, Gravies, Sauces, and Specialties | 14 | 6% |
| Nuts and Edible Seeds | 5 | 2% |
| Spices, Flavors, and Salts | 4 | 2% |
| Milk, Butter, and Dried Milk Products | 3 | 1% |
| Dressings and Condiments | 3 | 1% |
Latest NEEDS ACID refusals
Questions about NEEDS ACID
- What does NEEDS ACID mean on an FDA refusal?
- NEEDS ACID is the refusal charge “Appears to have been prepared, packed, or held under insanitary conditions whereby it may have become…”. FDA's official statement for the charge reads: “The article is subject to refusal of admission pursuant to Section 801(a)(3) in that it appears to have been prepared, packed, or held under insanitary conditions whereby it may have become contaminated with filth, or whereby it may have been rendered injurious to health due to inadequate acidification.”
- What law does NEEDS ACID cite?
- FDA's refusal charge table cites sections 402(a)(4) and 801(a)(3) of the FD&C Act (adulteration) for NEEDS ACID, 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 NEEDS ACID refusals?
- As of October 25, 2026, the countries with the most NEEDS ACID refusal lines are Italy (74), Philippines (48) and China (27). The full list with links is in the table on this page.
- Is there an FDA import alert for NEEDS ACID?
- Yes. One FDA import alert names NEEDS ACID as a charge code, including Import Alert 99-38 (Low-acid canned/acidified foods: inadequate process control). 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.