FDA refusal charge
FDA refusal charge UNFIT4FOOD
Unfit for food
UNFIT4FOOD is the FDA import refusal charge for unfit for food; it cites sections 402(a)(3) and 801(a)(3) of the FD&C Act (adulteration). FDA recorded it on 1,139 refused shipment lines from 9 countries between October 2016 and October 15, 2026, most often for bakery products from China.
Data from FDA public records, last checked .
- 1,139
- refused shipment lines carry this charge
- 9
- countries of origin
- 3
- import alerts name this charge
What UNFIT4FOOD means
The product appeared to be unfit for food.
This restates FDA's statement. It says what the charge means, never why a particular shipment was refused.
- 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 is subject to refusal of admission pursuant to section 801(a)(3) in that it appears to be unfit for food.
Import alerts that name UNFIT4FOOD
The charge section of each alert names this code. An alert lists firms; a charge is the reason recorded on one refused line.
Countries with the most UNFIT4FOOD refusals
Shipment lines carrying UNFIT4FOOD, by country of origin.
| Country | Lines | Share of UNFIT4FOOD |
|---|---|---|
| China | 858 | 75% |
| Taiwan | 154 | 14% |
| Costa Rica | 71 | 6% |
| Hong Kong | 29 | 3% |
| Japan | 23 | 2% |
| Argentina | 1 | 0% |
| United Kingdom | 1 | 0% |
| India | 1 | 0% |
| Philippines | 1 | 0% |
Product categories with the most UNFIT4FOOD refusals
| Category | Lines | Share of UNFIT4FOOD |
|---|---|---|
| Bakery Products, Doughs, Bakery Mixes, and Icings | 366 | 32% |
| Candy without Chocolate, Candy Specialties, and Chewing Gum | 211 | 19% |
| Fruit and Fruit Products (pit, subtropical and tropical fruits) | 107 | 9% |
| Snack Food Items | 102 | 9% |
| Gelatin, Rennet, Pudding Mixes, and Pie Fillings | 61 | 5% |
| Milk, Butter, and Dried Milk Products | 58 | 5% |
| Chocolate and Cocoa Products | 43 | 4% |
| Ice Cream and Related Products | 32 | 3% |
| Soft Drinks and Waters | 27 | 2% |
| Whole Grains, Milled Grain Products, and Starch | 19 | 2% |
Latest UNFIT4FOOD refusals
The 20 most recent refused lines, through October 15, 2026, each with its FDA source.
| Date | Firm | Product | Charges | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shijiazhuang Xinyuan Drink Co.,LtdShijiazhuang, China | Soybean flour, meal, or powder | POISONOUSMELAMINEUNFIT4FOOD | Source | |
| Shijiazhuang Xinyuan Drink Co.,LtdShijiazhuang, China | Soybean flour, meal, or powder | POISONOUSMELAMINEUNFIT4FOOD | Source | |
| Tsang Lin Industries Corp.Taichung, Taiwan | Mixed fruit, jam, jelly, preserves, marmalade, butter or candied, n.e.c | UNSAFE COLUNFIT4FOODNO PROCESS | Source | |
| Tsang Lin Industries Corp.Taichung, Taiwan | Mixed fruit, jam, jelly, preserves, marmalade, butter or candied, n.e.c | UNSAFE COLUNFIT4FOODNO PROCESS | Source | |
| Corporacion del Valle Metropolitano S.A.Moravia, Costa Rica | Jellied candy, soft (jelly beans, gum drops, etc.), with fruit (without chocolate) | UNFIT4FOOD | Source | |
| Jellico Food Co, Ltd.Taichung City, Taiwan | Gel cups, fruit flavored w/fruit candy | UNFIT4FOOD | Source | |
| Jellico Food Co, Ltd.Taichung City, Taiwan | Gel cups, fruit flavored w/fruit candy | UNFIT4FOOD | Source | |
| Jellico Food Co, Ltd.Taichung City, Taiwan | Gel cups, fruit flavored w/fruit candy | UNFIT4FOOD | Source | |
| Jellico Food Co, Ltd.Taichung City, Taiwan | Gel cups, fruit flavored w/fruit candy | UNFIT4FOOD | Source | |
| Han Shuo Food Co.,LtdDacun Township, Taiwan | Soft candy without nuts and fruit, n.e.c. (without chocolate) | UNFIT4FOOD | Source | |
| Han Shuo Food Co.,LtdDacun Township, Taiwan | Soft candy without nuts and fruit, n.e.c. (without chocolate) | UNFIT4FOOD | Source | |
| Han Shuo Food Co.,LtdDacun Township, Taiwan | Soft candy without nuts and fruit, n.e.c. (without chocolate) | UNFIT4FOOD | Source | |
| Han Shuo Food Co.,LtdDacun Township, Taiwan | Soft candy without nuts and fruit, n.e.c. (without chocolate) | UNFIT4FOOD | Source | |
| Han Shuo Food Co.,LtdDacun Township, Taiwan | Soft candy without nuts and fruit, n.e.c. (without chocolate) | UNFIT4FOOD | Source | |
| Han Shuo Food Co.,LtdDacun Township, Taiwan | Soft candy without nuts and fruit, n.e.c. (without chocolate) | UNFIT4FOOD | Source | |
| Jellico Food Co, Ltd.Taichung City, Taiwan | Subtropical/tropical, mixed, flavored jams, jellies, preserves, marmalades, butters and candied | UNFIT4FOOD | Source | |
| Jellico Food Co, Ltd.Taichung City, Taiwan | Subtropical/tropical, mixed, flavored jams, jellies, preserves, marmalades, butters and candied | UNFIT4FOOD | Source | |
| Jellico Food Co, Ltd.Taichung City, Taiwan | Subtropical/tropical, mixed, flavored jams, jellies, preserves, marmalades, butters and candied | UNFIT4FOOD | Source | |
| Jellico Food Co, Ltd.Taichung City, Taiwan | Subtropical/tropical, mixed, flavored jams, jellies, preserves, marmalades, butters and candied | UNFIT4FOOD | Source | |
| Jellico Food Co, Ltd.Taichung City, Taiwan | Subtropical/tropical, mixed, flavored jams, jellies, preserves, marmalades, butters and candied | UNFIT4FOOD | Source |
Questions about UNFIT4FOOD
- What does UNFIT4FOOD mean on an FDA refusal?
- UNFIT4FOOD is the refusal charge “Unfit for food”. The product appeared to be unfit for food.
- What law does UNFIT4FOOD cite?
- FDA's refusal charge table cites sections 402(a)(3) and 801(a)(3) of the FD&C Act (adulteration) for UNFIT4FOOD, 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 UNFIT4FOOD refusals?
- As of October 26, 2026, the countries with the most UNFIT4FOOD refusal lines are China (858), Taiwan (154) and Costa Rica (71). The full list with links is in the table on this page.
- Is there an FDA import alert for UNFIT4FOOD?
- Yes. 3 FDA import alerts name UNFIT4FOOD as a charge code, including Import Alert 99-29 (Vegetable protein products from China: melamine), Import Alert 99-31 (Food products: melamine and melamine analogs) and Import Alert 33-15 (Mini-cup gel and jelly candies of firm consistency). An import alert is a list of firms; a charge code is the reason recorded on one refused shipment line.
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