FDA refusal charge
FDA refusal charge SULFITELBL
Appears to be misbranded because 1) it appears to contain sulfites but the label fails to declare the…
SULFITELBL is the FDA import refusal charge for appears to be misbranded because 1) it appears to contain sulfites but the label fails to declare the…; it cites sections 403(a)(1) and 801(a)(3) of the FD&C Act (misbranding). FDA recorded it on 211 refused shipment lines between October 2016 and October 15, 2026, most often for tropical and pit fruit from Indonesia.
Data from FDA public records, last checked .
- 211
- refused shipment lines carry this charge
- 29
- countries of origin
- 1
- import alert names this charge
What SULFITELBL means
SupplierRadar has not written a plain-English version of SULFITELBL yet. FDA's own statement is quoted below.
- FD&C Act section
- 403(a)(1)801(a)(3)
- Classification
- misbranding
FDA's official statement
Copied unchanged from FDA's Refusal Charges reference table.
The article is subject to refusal of admission pursuant to section 801(a)(3) in that it appears to be misbranded because 1) it appears to contain sulfites but the label fails to declare the presence of sulfites, a fact material to sulfite-sensitive individuals who must avoid the ingredient due to potential health consequences from its consumption, and 2) it appears the food is fabricated from two or more ingredients and the label does not list the common or usual name of each ingredient.
Import alerts that name SULFITELBL
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 99-21 | Foods with undeclared added sulfiting agents | 412 |
Countries with the most SULFITELBL refusals
Shipment lines carrying SULFITELBL, by country of origin.
| Country | Lines | Share of SULFITELBL |
|---|---|---|
| Indonesia | 35 | 17% |
| India | 31 | 15% |
| Mexico | 23 | 11% |
| Afghanistan | 20 | 9% |
| Thailand | 16 | 8% |
| China | 14 | 7% |
| Philippines | 9 | 4% |
| Russia | 8 | 4% |
| Hong Kong | 7 | 3% |
| Canada | 6 | 3% |
Product categories with the most SULFITELBL refusals
| Category | Lines | Share of SULFITELBL |
|---|---|---|
| Fruit and Fruit Products (pit, subtropical and tropical fruits) | 64 | 30% |
| Fishery/Seafood Products | 37 | 18% |
| Vegetables and Vegetable Products (root and tuber vegetables, fungi) | 17 | 8% |
| Spices, Flavors, and Salts | 13 | 6% |
| Fruit and Fruit Products (berries, citrus and core fruits) | 12 | 6% |
| Nuts and Edible Seeds | 12 | 6% |
| Vegetables and Vegetable Products (legumes, leaf and stem, fruit vegetables) | 10 | 5% |
| Candy without Chocolate, Candy Specialties, and Chewing Gum | 8 | 4% |
| Multiple Food Dinners, Gravies, Sauces, and Specialties | 8 | 4% |
| Beverage Bases | 6 | 3% |
Latest SULFITELBL refusals
The 20 most recent refused lines, through October 15, 2026, each with its FDA source.
| Date | Firm | Product | Charges | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chin Huay Co., Ltd.Bang Bon, Thailand | Mango, dried or paste | SULFITELBL | Source | |
| Stc India Pvt Ltd.Mumbai, India | Mixed spice and seaonings, without salt, n.e.c | UNSAFE COLSULFITELBLUNSAFE ADD+2 | Source | |
| Stc India Pvt Ltd.Mumbai, India | Mixed spice and seaonings, without salt, n.e.c | UNSAFE COLSULFITELBLUNSAFE ADD+2 | Source | |
| Stc India Pvt Ltd.Mumbai, India | Mixed spice and seaonings, without salt, n.e.c | UNSAFE COLSULFITELBLUNSAFE ADD+2 | Source | |
| Stc India Pvt Ltd.Mumbai, India | Mixed spice and seaonings, without salt, n.e.c | UNSAFE COLSULFITELBLUNSAFE ADD+2 | Source | |
| Kitchen Xpress Overseas LtdGujarat, India | Mustard, prepared | SULFITELBL | Source | |
| Muslim Chakari Trading CompanyKabul, Afghanistan | Apricot, dried or paste | SULFITELBL | Source | |
| Gui Nan Hong Company LimitedSheung Wan, Hong Kong | Yams, dried or paste (root & tuber vegetable) | SULFITELBL | Source | |
| Agricultural Corporation Cheongdo WonGam CO.,Ltd.Cheongdo, South Korea | Persimmon, dried or paste | SULFITELBLPESTICIDE | Source | |
| ITN FoodToronto, Canada | Pastes, n.e.c | SULFITELBLUSUAL NAME | Source | |
| ITN FoodToronto, Canada | Curry paste | SULFITELBLUSUAL NAME | Source | |
| E-Shen CompanyYun Lin, Taiwan | Longbeans | SULFITELBLPESTICIDE | Source | |
| Gui Nan Hong Company LimitedSheung Wan, Hong Kong | Herbals & botanicals (not teas), n.e.c | SULFITELBL | Source | |
| Gui Nan Hong Company LimitedSheung Wan, Hong Kong | Other fruits, mixed, dried or paste | SULFITELBL | Source | |
| Stc India Pvt Ltd.Mumbai, India | Mixed spice and seaonings, without salt, n.e.c | SULFITELBL | Source | |
| Khalid Walid Ghalibi LtdMazar-E Sharif, Afghanistan | Plum, dried or paste | SULFITELBL | Source | |
| Malayalam ExportsErnakulam, India | Banana snacks, fruit snack foods, fried/oil cooked | SULFITELBL | Source | |
| Ashrafi Food IndustriesKarachi, Pakistan | Apricot, dried or paste | SULFITELBL | Source | |
| Gui Nan Hong Company LimitedSheung Wan, Hong Kong | Herbals & botanicals (not teas), n.e.c | SULFITELBL | Source | |
| Kabul Baba Jaan Manufacture and Packaging of Dried FruitKabul, Afghanistan | Apricot, dried or paste | SULFITELBLLIST INGRE | Source |
Questions about SULFITELBL
- What does SULFITELBL mean on an FDA refusal?
- SULFITELBL is the refusal charge “Appears to be misbranded because 1) it appears to contain sulfites but the label fails to declare the…”. 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 be misbranded because 1) it appears to contain sulfites but the label fails to declare the presence of sulfites, a fact material to sulfite-sensitive individuals who must avoid the ingredient due to potential health consequences from its consumption, and 2) it appears the food is fabricated from two or more ingredients and the label does not list the common or usual name of each ingredient.”
- What law does SULFITELBL cite?
- FDA's refusal charge table cites sections 403(a)(1) and 801(a)(3) of the FD&C Act (misbranding) for SULFITELBL, and classifies the charge as misbranding. The table is the Refusal Charges reference file that FDA publishes with its Data Dashboard.
- Which countries have the most SULFITELBL refusals?
- As of October 26, 2026, the countries with the most SULFITELBL refusal lines are Indonesia (35), India (31) and Mexico (23). The full list with links is in the table on this page.
- Is there an FDA import alert for SULFITELBL?
- Yes. One FDA import alert names SULFITELBL as a charge code, including Import Alert 99-21 (Foods with undeclared added sulfiting agents). An import alert is a list of firms; a charge code is the reason recorded on one refused shipment line.
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