FDA import refusals
FDA import refusals: spices from Colombia
FDA category: Spices, Flavors, and Salts · October 2016 to May 20, 2025
FDA refused 65 spices shipment lines from Colombia between October 2016 and May 20, 2025, 2 of them in 2025; the most refused products were basil and thyme, most often for MFR INJ (insanitary conditions, may be injurious).
Data from FDA public records, last checked .
- 65
- spices lines refused since October 2016
- 2
- refused so far in 2025
- 10
- firms with the most records, listed below
Spices refusals from Colombia by year
Shipment lines FDA refused each year. The table has the same numbers as the chart.
| Year | Refusal lines | vs prior year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2 | |
| 2023 | 18 | +80% |
| 2022 | 10 | -29% |
| 2021 | 14 | |
| 2019 | 16 | +220% |
| 2018 | 5 |
Basil refusals from Colombia
FDA refused 27 basil lines from Colombia between October 2016 and May 20, 2025, 42% of the spices lines.
| FDA product description | Lines | Share of spices |
|---|---|---|
| Basil (sweet basil), whole (spice) | 27 | 41.5% |
Thyme refusals from Colombia
FDA refused 18 thyme lines from Colombia between October 2016 and May 20, 2025, 28% of the spices lines.
| FDA product description | Lines | Share of spices |
|---|---|---|
| Thyme, whole (spice) | 18 | 27.7% |
Recent thyme refusals
| Date | Firm | Product | Charges | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Country Fresh S A SBogota, Colombia | Thyme, whole (spice) | PESTICIDE | Source | |
| Bioherbs S.A.S.Chia, Colombia | Thyme, whole (spice) | PESTICIDE | Source | |
| Bioherbs S.A.S.Chia, Colombia | Thyme, whole (spice) | PESTICIDE | Source | |
| Bioherbs S.A.S.Chia, Colombia | Thyme, whole (spice) | PESTICIDE | Source | |
| Bioherbs S.A.S.Chia, Colombia | Thyme, whole (spice) | PESTICIDE | Source |
Mixed spices and seasonings refusals from Colombia
FDA refused 12 mixed spices and seasonings lines from Colombia between October 2016 and May 20, 2025, 18% of the spices lines.
| FDA product description | Lines | Share of spices |
|---|---|---|
| Mixed spices and seasonings, liquid, without salt, n.e.c. | 12 | 18.5% |
Recent mixed spices and seasonings refusals
| Date | Firm | Product | Charges | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Triguisar de Colombia S.AItagui, Colombia | Mixed spices and seasonings, liquid, without salt, n.e.c | LACKS FIRMLACKS N/CNO ENGLISH+1 | Source |
Other spices products refused from Colombia
| Product group | Lines | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Vanilla imitation flavor | 2 | 3.1% |
| Whole spice | 2 | 3.1% |
| Almond | 1 | 1.5% |
| Mixed spice and seasonings | 1 | 1.5% |
| Spices | 1 | 1.5% |
| Vanilla | 1 | 1.5% |
Why FDA refused spices from Colombia
FDA records a charge code on each refused line; one line can carry several.
| Charge code | Meaning | Lines | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| MFR INJ | Insanitary conditions, may be injurious | 18 | 17% |
| PESTICIDE | Pesticide chemical residue | 18 | 17% |
| MFR INSAN | Insanitary manufacturing, processing or packing | 17 | 16% |
| NO ENGLISH | Required label information not in English | 12 | 12% |
| LACKS N/C | Net quantity statement missing | 9 | 9% |
| NEEDS FCE | Processor not registered for canned or acidified foods | 7 | 7% |
| NO PROCESS | No scheduled process filed | 7 | 7% |
| INSANITARY | Prepared, packed or held under insanitary conditions | 6 | 6% |
| NUTRIT LBL | Nutrition information missing from label | 6 | 6% |
| COLORLABEL | Required information not prominent | 4 | 4% |
Colombia spices firms with the most FDA records
Counts are FDA records in SupplierRadar's data, not a ranking of quality.
| Firm | City | FDA records |
|---|---|---|
| Gourmet Greens SAS | Tenjo | 7 |
| Bioherbs S.A.S. | Chia | 7 |
| Griffith Foods S.A.S | Marinilla | 5 |
| Inversiones Colgroup SAS | Bogota | 5 |
| Triguisar de Colombia S.A | Itagui | 4 |
| Unilever Andina Colombia | Bogota | 4 |
| Country Fresh S A S | Bogota | 4 |
| La Corsaria S.A.S | Bogota | 4 |
| Prodisabor SAS | Barranquilla | 3 |
| Bioherbs C.I. E.U | Bogota | 2 |
Latest spices refusals from Colombia
| Date | Firm | Product | Charges | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Country Fresh S A SBogota, Colombia | Thyme, whole (spice) | PESTICIDE | Source | |
| Levepan S ABogota, Colombia | Vanilla, natural extract or flavor (spice) | NO ENGLISH | Source | |
| Bioherbs S.A.S.Chia, Colombia | Thyme, whole (spice) | PESTICIDE | Source | |
| Bioherbs S.A.S.Chia, Colombia | Thyme, whole (spice) | PESTICIDE | Source | |
| Bioherbs S.A.S.Chia, Colombia | Thyme, whole (spice) | PESTICIDE | Source | |
| Bioherbs S.A.S.Chia, Colombia | Thyme, whole (spice) | PESTICIDE | Source | |
| Prodisabor SASBarranquilla, Colombia | Vanilla (vanillin) imitation flavor | LIST INGRECOLOR LBLGLACKS N/C+2 | Source | |
| Prodisabor SASBarranquilla, Colombia | Vanilla (vanillin) imitation flavor | LIST INGRECOLOR LBLGLACKS N/C+2 | Source | |
| Prodisabor SASBarranquilla, Colombia | Almond, natural extract or flavor (spice) | LIST INGRECOLOR LBLGLACKS N/C+2 | Source | |
| Bioherbs S.A.S.Chia, Colombia | Thyme, whole (spice) | PESTICIDE | Source | |
| La Corsaria S.A.SBogota, Colombia | Thyme, whole (spice) | PESTICIDE | Source | |
| Bioherbs S.A.S.Chia, Colombia | Thyme, whole (spice) | PESTICIDE | Source | |
| Bioherbs S.A.S.Chia, Colombia | Thyme, whole (spice) | PESTICIDE | Source | |
| La Corsaria S.A.SBogota, Colombia | Thyme, whole (spice) | PESTICIDE | Source | |
| Triguisar de Colombia S.AItagui, Colombia | Mixed spices and seasonings, liquid, without salt, n.e.c | LACKS FIRMLACKS N/CNO ENGLISH+1 | Source | |
| Country Fresh S A SBogota, Colombia | Thyme, whole (spice) | PESTICIDE | Source | |
| Bioherbs C.I. E.UBogota, Colombia | Thyme, whole (spice) | PESTICIDELACKS FIRMLACKS N/C | Source | |
| Bioherbs C.I. E.UBogota, Colombia | Thyme, whole (spice) | PESTICIDE | Source | |
| Country Fresh S A SBogota, Colombia | Thyme, whole (spice) | PESTICIDELACKS N/C | Source | |
| Country Fresh S A SBogota, Colombia | Thyme, whole (spice) | PESTICIDE | Source |
Questions about spices refusals from Colombia
- How many spices shipments from Colombia did FDA refuse in 2025?
- FDA refused 2 shipment lines of spices from Colombia in 2025 through May 20, 2025.
- Why does FDA refuse spices from Colombia?
- FDA records a charge code on every refused shipment line. For spices from Colombia the most frequent are MFR INJ (insanitary conditions, may be injurious, 18 lines), PESTICIDE (pesticide chemical residue, 18 lines) and MFR INSAN (insanitary manufacturing, processing or packing, 17 lines). A charge describes what FDA's reference table says about one shipment line, not about every firm.
- Which import alerts cover spices from Colombia?
- As of October 26, 2026, no import alert numbered under this category lists a firm in Colombia in SupplierRadar's records. General food alerts numbered 99-xx can still list Colombia firms; see the country page.
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