FDA import refusals
FDA import refusals: spices from Canada
FDA category: Spices, Flavors, and Salts · October 2016 to November 17, 2025
FDA refused 46 spices shipment lines from Canada between October 2016 and November 17, 2025, 22 of them in 2025; the most refused products were mixed spices and seasoning with salt and imitation flavor, most often for NUTRIT LBL (nutrition information missing from label).
Data from FDA public records, last checked .
- 46
- spices lines refused since October 2016
- 22
- refused so far in 2025
- 10
- firms with the most records, listed below
Spices refusals from Canada by year
Shipment lines FDA refused each year. The table has the same numbers as the chart.
| Year | Refusal lines | vs prior year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 22 | +450% |
| 2024 | 4 | +300% |
| 2023 | 1 | -67% |
| 2022 | 3 | -67% |
| 2021 | 9 | +800% |
| 2020 | 1 | -75% |
| 2019 | 4 | +300% |
| 2018 | 1 | 0% |
| 2017 | 1 |
Mixed spices and seasoning with salt refusals from Canada
FDA refused 10 mixed spices and seasoning with salt lines from Canada between October 2016 and November 17, 2025, 22% of the spices lines.
| FDA product description | Lines | Share of spices |
|---|---|---|
| Mixed spices and seasoning with salt, n.e.c. | 10 | 21.7% |
Recent mixed spices and seasoning with salt refusals
| Date | Firm | Product | Charges | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Itn FoodWoodbridge, Canada | Mixed spices and seasoning with salt, n.e.c | SALMONELLA | Source | |
| Itn FoodWoodbridge, Canada | Mixed spices and seasoning with salt, n.e.c | NUTRIT LBL | Source | |
| Itn FoodWoodbridge, Canada | Mixed spices and seasoning with salt, n.e.c | SALMONELLA | Source | |
| ITN FoodToronto, Canada | Mixed spices and seasoning with salt, n.e.c | SALMONELLA | Source |
Imitation flavor refusals from Canada
FDA refused 3 imitation flavor lines from Canada between October 2016 and November 17, 2025, 7% of the spices lines.
| FDA product description | Lines | Share of spices |
|---|---|---|
| Imitation flavor, n.e.c. | 3 | 6.5% |
Spices refusals from Canada
FDA refused 3 spices lines from Canada between October 2016 and November 17, 2025, 7% of the spices lines.
| FDA product description | Lines | Share of spices |
|---|---|---|
| Spices, ground, cracked, etc., n.e.c. | 3 | 6.5% |
Other spices products refused from Canada
| Product group | Lines | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Fennel | 2 | 4.3% |
| Mixed spice and seaonings | 2 | 4.3% |
| Mixed spices and seasonings | 2 | 4.3% |
| Mustard | 2 | 4.3% |
| Pepper | 2 | 4.3% |
| Poppyseed | 2 | 4.3% |
| Anise | 1 | 2.2% |
Why FDA refused spices from Canada
FDA records a charge code on each refused line; one line can carry several.
| Charge code | Meaning | Lines | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| NUTRIT LBL | Nutrition information missing from label | 18 | 27% |
| LACKS N/C | Net quantity statement missing | 10 | 15% |
| SALMONELLA | Salmonella | 10 | 15% |
| LIST INGRE | Ingredients not listed | 6 | 9% |
| LACKS FIRM | Manufacturer name and address missing | 5 | 7% |
| NO ENGLISH | Required label information not in English | 5 | 7% |
| UNSAFE COL | Color additive unsafe under section 721 | 5 | 7% |
| HEALTH C | Unauthorized nutrient content or health claim | 3 | 4% |
| INCONSPICU | Required information not conspicuous | 3 | 4% |
| COLOR LBLG | Artificial coloring not declared | 2 | 3% |
Canada spices firms with the most FDA records
Counts are FDA records in SupplierRadar's data, not a ranking of quality.
| Firm | City | FDA records |
|---|---|---|
| Bains Wholesale Foods Ltd | Surrey | 9 |
| ITN Food | Toronto | 8 |
| Kirin Trade Company | Scarborough | 5 |
| Itn Food | Woodbridge | 4 |
| Biologic Publishing Inc | Surrey | 3 |
| Shashi Foods Inc | East York | 2 |
| Cell Foods | Pointe-Claire | 2 |
| Besco Grain Ltd | Carman | 2 |
| Passportchefs | Etobicoke | 2 |
| La Cie McCormick Canada Co. | London | 1 |
Latest spices refusals from Canada
| Date | Firm | Product | Charges | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Itn FoodWoodbridge, Canada | Mixed spices and seasoning with salt, n.e.c | SALMONELLA | Source | |
| Itn FoodWoodbridge, Canada | Mixed spices and seasoning with salt, n.e.c | NUTRIT LBL | Source | |
| Cell FoodsPointe-Claire, Canada | Fennel, ground, cracked (spice) | PESTICIDE | Source | |
| Bains Wholesale Foods LtdSurrey, Canada | Poppyseed, ground, cracked (spice) | LACKS N/CNUTRIT LBL | Source | |
| Bains Wholesale Foods LtdSurrey, Canada | Poppyseed, whole (spice) | LACKS N/CNUTRIT LBL | Source | |
| Bains Wholesale Foods LtdSurrey, Canada | Mace, whole (spice) | NUTRIT LBL | Source | |
| Bains Wholesale Foods LtdSurrey, Canada | Capsicums (cayenne chili, hot peppers), whole (spice) | NUTRIT LBL | Source | |
| Bains Wholesale Foods LtdSurrey, Canada | Ginger, ground, cracked (spice) | NUTRIT LBL | Source | |
| Bains Wholesale Foods LtdSurrey, Canada | Rosemary, whole (spice) | NUTRIT LBL | Source | |
| Bains Wholesale Foods LtdSurrey, Canada | Clove, whole (spice) | NUTRIT LBL | Source | |
| Bains Wholesale Foods LtdSurrey, Canada | Poppyseed, whole (spice) | LACKS N/CNUTRIT LBL | Source | |
| Bains Wholesale Foods LtdSurrey, Canada | Mixed spice and seasonings, ground, cracked, without salt, n.e.c | NUTRIT LBL | Source | |
| Itn FoodWoodbridge, Canada | Mixed spices and seasoning with salt, n.e.c | SALMONELLA | Source | |
| Besco Grain LtdCarman, Canada | Mustard, whole (spice) | SALMONELLA | Source | |
| ITN FoodToronto, Canada | Mixed spices and seasoning with salt, n.e.c | SALMONELLA | Source | |
| 2762563 Ontario IncBurlington, Canada | Fennel, whole (spice) | INCONSPICUCOLOR LBLGLACKS N/C+2 | Source | |
| Besco Grain LtdCarman, Canada | Mustard, whole (spice) | SALMONELLA | Source | |
| Kirin Trade CompanyScarborough, Canada | Spices, flavors and salt not mentioned elsewhere, n.e.c | NO ENGLISH | Source | |
| Kirin Trade CompanyScarborough, Canada | Green peppercorn, ground, cracked (spice) | NO ENGLISH | Source | |
| Kirin Trade CompanyScarborough, Canada | Anise (star anise) (spice) | NO ENGLISH | Source |
Questions about spices refusals from Canada
- How many spices shipments from Canada did FDA refuse in 2025?
- FDA refused 22 shipment lines of spices from Canada in 2025 through November 17, 2025, compared with 4 in 2024.
- Why does FDA refuse spices from Canada?
- FDA records a charge code on every refused shipment line. For spices from Canada the most frequent are NUTRIT LBL (nutrition information missing from label, 18 lines), LACKS N/C (net quantity statement missing, 10 lines) and SALMONELLA (Salmonella, 10 lines). A charge describes what FDA's reference table says about one shipment line, not about every firm.
- Which import alerts cover spices from Canada?
- As of October 25, 2026, no import alert numbered under this category lists a firm in Canada in SupplierRadar's records. General food alerts numbered 99-xx can still list Canada firms; see the country page.
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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.