FDA import refusals
FDA import refusals: spices from Guatemala
FDA category: Spices, Flavors, and Salts · October 2016 to July 28, 2026
FDA refused 28 spices shipment lines from Guatemala between October 2016 and July 28, 2026, 3 of them in 2026; the most refused products were cardamon and garlic salt, most often for NO ENGLISH (required label information not in English).
Data from FDA public records, last checked .
- 28
- spices lines refused since October 2016
- 3
- refused so far in 2026
- 6
- firms with the most records, listed below
Spices refusals from Guatemala 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) | 3 | |
| 2025 | 1 | |
| 2023 | 1 | -50% |
| 2022 | 2 | +100% |
| 2021 | 1 | -80% |
| 2020 | 5 | +67% |
| 2019 | 3 | 0% |
| 2018 | 3 | -62% |
| 2017 | 8 | |
| 2016 (from Oct) | 1 |
Cardamon refusals from Guatemala
FDA refused 7 cardamon lines from Guatemala between October 2016 and July 28, 2026, 25% of the spices lines.
| FDA product description | Lines | Share of spices |
|---|---|---|
| Cardamon, whole (spice) | 7 | 25.0% |
Recent cardamon refusals
| Date | Firm | Product | Charges | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cafe Internacional de Coban, S.A.Coban, Guatemala | Cardamon, whole (spice) | SALMONELLA | Source | |
| Cafe Internacional de Coban, S.A.Coban, Guatemala | Cardamon, whole (spice) | SALMONELLA | Source | |
| Cafe Internacional de Coban, S.A.Coban, Guatemala | Cardamon, whole (spice) | SALMONELLA | Source | |
| Cafe Internacional de Coban, S.A.Coban, Guatemala | Cardamon, whole (spice) | SALMONELLA | Source | |
| Del Tropico S.A.Gutatemala, Guatemala | Cardamon, whole (spice) | FILTHYLACKS N/C | Source |
Garlic salt refusals from Guatemala
FDA refused 4 garlic salt lines from Guatemala between October 2016 and July 28, 2026, 14% of the spices lines.
| FDA product description | Lines | Share of spices |
|---|---|---|
| Garlic salt | 4 | 14.3% |
Onion salt refusals from Guatemala
FDA refused 3 onion salt lines from Guatemala between October 2016 and July 28, 2026, 11% of the spices lines.
| FDA product description | Lines | Share of spices |
|---|---|---|
| Onion salt | 3 | 10.7% |
Other spices products refused from Guatemala
| Product group | Lines | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Meat tenderizer | 2 | 7.1% |
| Mixed spice and seasonings | 2 | 7.1% |
| Mixed spices and seasoning with salt | 2 | 7.1% |
| Capsicums | 2 | 7.1% |
| Basil | 1 | 3.6% |
| Chili seasoning liquid without salt | 1 | 3.6% |
Why FDA refused spices from Guatemala
FDA records a charge code on each refused line; one line can carry several.
| Charge code | Meaning | Lines | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| NO ENGLISH | Required label information not in English | 10 | 26% |
| NUTRIT LBL | Nutrition information missing from label | 10 | 26% |
| FILTHY | Filthy, putrid or decomposed substance | 4 | 11% |
| SALMONELLA | Salmonella | 4 | 11% |
| LACKS FIRM | Manufacturer name and address missing | 3 | 8% |
| LACKS N/C | Net quantity statement missing | 2 | 5% |
| NO PROCESS | No scheduled process filed | 2 | 5% |
| ALLERGEN | Major food allergen not declared | 1 | 3% |
| LABELING | Fair Packaging and Labeling Act | 1 | 3% |
| LIST INGRE | Ingredients not listed | 1 | 3% |
Guatemala spices firms with the most FDA records
Counts are FDA records in SupplierRadar's data, not a ranking of quality.
| Firm | City | FDA records |
|---|---|---|
| Nestle Guatemala, S.A | Guatemala | 10 |
| Cafe Internacional de Coban, S.A. | Coban | 4 |
| Nostalgia Foods S.A. | Guatemala City | 2 |
| Unknown | UNKNOWN | 1 |
| Alifrex SA | Palencia | 1 |
| Corporacion de Bebidas de Guatem | Guatemala City | 1 |
Latest spices refusals from Guatemala
| Date | Firm | Product | Charges | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ContrasaGuatemala, Guatemala | Imitation spice flavor | NO ENGLISHNUTRIT LBL | Source | |
| UnknownUNKNOWN, Guatemala | Mixed spices and seasoning with salt, n.e.c | NO ENGLISHNUTRIT LBL | Source | |
| Chaps CargpGuatemala City, Guatemala | Chili seasoning ( chili powder and paprika) liquid without salt | LACKS FIRMLACKS N/CLABELING | Source | |
| Manuela Lopez PedroHuehuetenango, Guatemala | Spices, flavors and salt not mentioned elsewhere, n.e.c | UNAPPROVED | Source | |
| Corporacion de Bebidas de GuatemGuatemala City, Guatemala | Mixed spices and seasonings, liquid, with salt, n.e.c | NEEDS FCENO PROCESS | Source | |
| Nostalgia Foods S.A.Guatemala City, Guatemala | Mixed spice and seasonings, ground, cracked, without salt, n.e.c | NO ENGLISH | Source | |
| Nostalgia Foods S.A.Guatemala City, Guatemala | Mixed spice and seasonings, ground, cracked, without salt, n.e.c | NO ENGLISH | Source | |
| Nestle Guatemala, S.AGuatemala, Guatemala | Capsicums (cayenne chili, hot peppers), ground, cracked (spice) | NO ENGLISH | Source | |
| Cafe Internacional de Coban, S.A.Coban, Guatemala | Cardamon, whole (spice) | SALMONELLA | Source | |
| Cafe Internacional de Coban, S.A.Coban, Guatemala | Cardamon, whole (spice) | SALMONELLA | Source | |
| ContrasaGuatemala, Guatemala | Smoke flavoring, pyroligenous acid, natural extract or flavor (spice) | FILTHY | Source | |
| Alifrex SAPalencia, Guatemala | Basil (sweet basil), whole (spice) | MFR INSANMFR INJ | Source | |
| B & B Productos Alimenticios Centro AmericanosGuatemala City, Guatemala | Capsicums (cayenne chili, hot peppers), natural extract or flavor (spice) | NO PROCESS | Source | |
| Cafe Internacional de Coban, S.A.Coban, Guatemala | Cardamon, whole (spice) | SALMONELLA | Source | |
| Cafe Internacional de Coban, S.A.Coban, Guatemala | Cardamon, whole (spice) | SALMONELLA | Source | |
| Del Tropico S.A.Gutatemala, Guatemala | Cardamon, whole (spice) | FILTHYLACKS N/C | Source | |
| Del Tropico S.A.Gutatemala, Guatemala | Cardamon, whole (spice) | FILTHY | Source | |
| Del Tropico S.A.Gutatemala, Guatemala | Cardamon, whole (spice) | FILTHY | Source | |
| PuglisiHuehuetenango, Guatemala | Mixed spices and seasoning with salt, n.e.c | LACKS FIRMNO ENGLISH | Source | |
| Nestle Guatemala, S.AGuatemala, Guatemala | Meat tenderizer, ground, cracked, with salt | NO ENGLISHNUTRIT LBL | Source |
Questions about spices refusals from Guatemala
- How many spices shipments from Guatemala did FDA refuse in 2026?
- FDA refused 3 shipment lines of spices from Guatemala in 2026 through July 28, 2026, compared with 1 in 2025.
- Why does FDA refuse spices from Guatemala?
- FDA records a charge code on every refused shipment line. For spices from Guatemala the most frequent are NO ENGLISH (required label information not in English, 10 lines), NUTRIT LBL (nutrition information missing from label, 10 lines) and FILTHY (filthy, putrid or decomposed substance, 4 lines). A charge describes what FDA's reference table says about one shipment line, not about every firm.
- Which import alerts cover spices from Guatemala?
- As of October 26, 2026, no import alert numbered under this category lists a firm in Guatemala in SupplierRadar's records. General food alerts numbered 99-xx can still list Guatemala 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.