FDA import refusals
FDA import refusals: spices from China
FDA category: Spices, Flavors, and Salts · October 2016 to September 10, 2026
FDA refused 201 spices shipment lines from China between October 2016 and September 10, 2026, 12 of them in 2026; the most refused products were capsicums and mixed spices and seasoning with salt, most often for FILTHY (filthy, putrid or decomposed substance).
Data from FDA public records, last checked .
- 201
- spices lines refused since October 2016
- 12
- refused so far in 2026
- 10
- firms with the most records, listed below
Spices refusals from China by year
Shipment lines FDA refused each year. The table has the same numbers as the chart.
| Year | Refusal lines | vs prior year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (to date) | 12 | |
| 2025 | 40 | +122% |
| 2024 | 18 | +100% |
| 2023 | 9 | -59% |
| 2022 | 22 | +47% |
| 2021 | 15 | +114% |
| 2020 | 7 | -63% |
| 2019 | 19 | -41% |
| 2018 | 32 | +33% |
| 2017 | 24 | |
| 2016 (from Oct) | 3 |
Capsicums refusals from China
FDA refused 63 capsicums lines from China between October 2016 and September 10, 2026, 31% of the spices lines.
| FDA product description | Lines | Share of spices |
|---|---|---|
| Capsicums (cayenne chili, hot peppers), ground, cracked (spice) | 37 | 18.4% |
| Capsicums (cayenne chili, hot peppers), whole (spice) | 26 | 12.9% |
Recent capsicums refusals
| Date | Firm | Product | Charges | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tianjin Yongsheng Agricultural Product First Making Co., Ltd.TIANJIN, China | Capsicums (cayenne chili, hot peppers), whole (spice) | FSVP VIO | Source | |
| Neihuang Xinglong Agricultural Products Co., LtdAnyang, China | Capsicums (cayenne chili, hot peppers), whole (spice) | FILTHYSALMONELLA | Source | |
| Xingtai Hongri Biotech Co., Ltd.Xingtai, China | Capsicums (cayenne chili, hot peppers), whole (spice) | FILTHY | Source | |
| Qingdao Xinguxiang Foods Co., LtdQingdao, China | Capsicums (cayenne chili, hot peppers), ground, cracked (spice) | PESTICIDE | Source | |
| Qingdao Xinguxiang Foods Co., LtdQingdao, China | Capsicums (cayenne chili, hot peppers), ground, cracked (spice) | PESTICIDE | Source |
Mixed spices and seasoning with salt refusals from China
FDA refused 21 mixed spices and seasoning with salt lines from China between October 2016 and September 10, 2026, 10% of the spices lines.
| FDA product description | Lines | Share of spices |
|---|---|---|
| Mixed spices and seasoning with salt, n.e.c. | 21 | 10.4% |
Paprika refusals from China
FDA refused 18 paprika lines from China between October 2016 and September 10, 2026, 9% of the spices lines.
| FDA product description | Lines | Share of spices |
|---|---|---|
| Paprika, ground, cracked (spice) | 18 | 9.0% |
Other spices products refused from China
| Product group | Lines | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Pepper | 11 | 5.5% |
| Five spice mix | 9 | 4.5% |
| Natural extract or flavor | 9 | 4.5% |
| Cinnamon | 8 | 4.0% |
| Imitation fruit flavor | 8 | 4.0% |
| Garlic | 7 | 3.5% |
Why FDA refused spices from China
FDA records a charge code on each refused line; one line can carry several.
| Charge code | Meaning | Lines | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| FILTHY | Filthy, putrid or decomposed substance | 66 | 34% |
| SALMONELLA | Salmonella | 25 | 13% |
| MELAMINE | Melamine | 20 | 10% |
| PESTICIDE | Pesticide chemical residue | 19 | 10% |
| FSVP VIO | Importer not in compliance with FSVP | 13 | 7% |
| POISONOUS | Poisonous or deleterious substance | 13 | 7% |
| REFUSE EI | Appears to have been manufactured, processed, or packed under insanitary conditions. | 11 | 6% |
| AF-NONRSP | The product appears to have been prepared or packed under insanitary conditions whereby it may have been… | 9 | 5% |
| LACKS FIRM | Manufacturer name and address missing | 8 | 4% |
| NO ENGLISH | Required label information not in English | 8 | 4% |
China spices firms with the most FDA records
Counts are FDA records in SupplierRadar's data, not a ranking of quality.
| Firm | City | FDA records |
|---|---|---|
| Sichuan Baijia Food Industrial Co.,Ltd | Sichuan | 19 |
| Neihuang Xinglong Agricultural Products Co., Ltd | Anyang | 18 |
| Qingdao Xinguxiang Foods Co., Ltd | Qingdao | 17 |
| Paprimur Qingdao Foods Co.,Ltd | Qingdao | 14 |
| Shanghai Doking Food Co. Ltd. | Shangqiu | 14 |
| Dongguan Huayu Food Co., Ltd | Dongguan | 10 |
| Sichuanpixiandouban | Chengdu | 7 |
| Fuchs China Foodstuffs Co., LTD | Anqiu City | 6 |
| Fucaiyuan Food Trading Co., | Dongguan | 6 |
| Zhecheng Yuyuan Foodstuff Co., Ltd. | Shangqiu | 5 |
Latest spices refusals from China
| Date | Firm | Product | Charges | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wuzhou Dehui AgriculturalWuzhou Guangxi, China | Five spice mix, ground, cracked, without salt | FILTHY | Source | |
| Wuzhou Dehui AgriculturalWuzhou Guangxi, China | Five spice mix, ground, cracked, without salt | FILTHY | Source | |
| Tianjin Yongsheng Agricultural Product First Making Co., Ltd.TIANJIN, China | Capsicums (cayenne chili, hot peppers), whole (spice) | FSVP VIO | Source | |
| Neihuang Xinglong Agricultural Products Co., LtdAnyang, China | Capsicums (cayenne chili, hot peppers), whole (spice) | FILTHYSALMONELLA | Source | |
| Xingtai Hongri Biotech Co., Ltd.Xingtai, China | Capsicums (cayenne chili, hot peppers), whole (spice) | FILTHY | Source | |
| Shenzhen Aoxintai Imp. & Exp. TrShenzhen, China | Cinnamon, cassia, ground, cracked (spice) | POISONOUS | Source | |
| Dongguan Huayu Food Co., LtdDongguan, China | Salt (table salt) n.e.c | REFUSE EI | Source | |
| Dongguan Huayu Food Co., LtdDongguan, China | Pepper, black, ground, cracked (spice) | REFUSE EI | Source | |
| Dongguan Huayu Food Co., LtdDongguan, China | Salt (table salt) n.e.c | REFUSE EI | Source | |
| Dongguan Huayu Food Co., LtdDongguan, China | Pepper, black, ground, cracked (spice) | REFUSE EI | Source | |
| Qingdao Xinguxiang Foods Co., LtdQingdao, China | Capsicums (cayenne chili, hot peppers), ground, cracked (spice) | PESTICIDE | Source | |
| Qingdao Xinguxiang Foods Co., LtdQingdao, China | Capsicums (cayenne chili, hot peppers), ground, cracked (spice) | PESTICIDE | Source | |
| Sichuan Yangs Food Development Co.,LtdChengdu, China | Capsicums (cayenne chili, hot peppers), ground, cracked (spice) | LIST INGRELACKS N/CNUTRIT LBL | Source | |
| Gold Hope Co., LtdWuzhou, China | Fennel, whole (spice) | FILTHY | Source | |
| Kunshan Asia Aroma Corp.,Ltd.Suzhou, China | Natural extract or flavor, n.e.c | 807REFUSAL | Source | |
| Kaiyuan Liansheng Food Technology Co., Ltd.Kaiyuan Honghe Hani And Yi Autonomous Prefecture, China | Pepper, pink | PESTICIDE | Source | |
| Dongguan Huayu Food Co., LtdDongguan, China | Plain salt (table salt) | REFUSE EI807REFUSAL | Source | |
| Dongguan Huayu Food Co., LtdDongguan, China | Plain salt (table salt) | REFUSE EI807REFUSAL | Source | |
| Dongguan Huayu Food Co., LtdDongguan, China | Pepper, black, ground, cracked (spice) | REFUSE EI807REFUSAL | Source | |
| Dongguan Huayu Food Co., LtdDongguan, China | Pepper, black, ground, cracked (spice) | REFUSE EI807REFUSAL | Source |
Questions about spices refusals from China
- How many spices shipments from China did FDA refuse in 2026?
- FDA refused 12 shipment lines of spices from China in 2026 through September 10, 2026, compared with 40 in 2025.
- Why does FDA refuse spices from China?
- FDA records a charge code on every refused shipment line. For spices from China the most frequent are FILTHY (filthy, putrid or decomposed substance, 66 lines), SALMONELLA (Salmonella, 25 lines) and MELAMINE (melamine, 20 lines). A charge describes what FDA's reference table says about one shipment line, not about every firm.
- Which import alerts cover spices from China?
- As of October 26, 2026, no import alert numbered under this category lists a firm in China in SupplierRadar's records. General food alerts numbered 99-xx can still list China firms; see the country page.
Built for the person who signs the FSVP file
Buying spices from China?
Check each China supplier against every FDA record in one paste, free for five suppliers. Watch the ones you buy from and get the source the day a record changes.
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.