FDA import refusals
FDA import refusals: spices from Hong Kong
FDA category: Spices, Flavors, and Salts · October 2016 to October 9, 2026
FDA refused 4 spices shipment lines from Hong Kong between October 2016 and October 9, 2026, 1 of them in 2026; the most refused products were anise and Chinese five-spice, most often for FILTHY (filthy, putrid or decomposed substance).
Data from FDA public records, last checked .
- 4
- spices lines refused since October 2016
- 1
- refused so far in 2026
- 2
- firms with the most records, listed below
Spices refusals from Hong Kong 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) | 1 | |
| 2022 | 1 | |
| 2020 | 1 | |
| 2016 (from Oct) | 1 |
Anise refusals from Hong Kong
FDA refused 2 anise lines from Hong Kong between October 2016 and October 9, 2026, 50% of the spices lines.
| FDA product description | Lines | Share of spices |
|---|---|---|
| Anise (star anise) (spice) | 2 | 50.0% |
Recent anise refusals
| Date | Firm | Product | Charges | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Intertrade Co. (WOB New Intertrade Foods Co. Ltd.)Hong Kong, Hong Kong | Anise (star anise) (spice) | SULFITELBL | Source | |
| Kong Bright Trading Co.Mong Kok, Hong Kong | Anise (star anise) (spice) | FILTHY | Source |
Chinese five-spice refusals from Hong Kong
FDA refused 1 Chinese five-spice line from Hong Kong between October 2016 and October 9, 2026, 25% of the spices lines.
| FDA product description | Lines | Share of spices |
|---|---|---|
| Chinese five-spice, liquid without salt | 1 | 25.0% |
Recent Chinese five-spice refusals
| Date | Firm | Product | Charges | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ocean EastYuen Long, Hong Kong | Chinese five-spice, liquid without salt | UNSFDIETSP | Source |
Pepper refusals from Hong Kong
FDA refused 1 pepper line from Hong Kong between October 2016 and October 9, 2026, 25% of the spices lines.
| FDA product description | Lines | Share of spices |
|---|---|---|
| Pepper,black, whole (spice) | 1 | 25.0% |
Recent pepper refusals
| Date | Firm | Product | Charges | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wah Tai Ginseng Trading LimitedTsuen Wan, Hong Kong | Pepper,black, whole (spice) | FILTHY | Source |
Why FDA refused spices from Hong Kong
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 | 2 | 50% |
| SULFITELBL | Appears to be misbranded because 1) it appears to contain sulfites but the label fails to declare the… | 1 | 25% |
| UNSFDIETSP | Dietary ingredient without safety assurance | 1 | 25% |
Hong Kong spices firms with the most FDA records
Counts are FDA records in SupplierRadar's data, not a ranking of quality.
| Firm | City | FDA records |
|---|---|---|
| New Intertrade Co. (WOB New Intertrade Foods Co. Ltd.) | Hong Kong | 1 |
| Ocean East | Yuen Long | 1 |
Latest spices refusals from Hong Kong
| Date | Firm | Product | Charges | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wah Tai Ginseng Trading LimitedTsuen Wan, Hong Kong | Pepper,black, whole (spice) | FILTHY | Source | |
| New Intertrade Co. (WOB New Intertrade Foods Co. Ltd.)Hong Kong, Hong Kong | Anise (star anise) (spice) | SULFITELBL | Source | |
| Ocean EastYuen Long, Hong Kong | Chinese five-spice, liquid without salt | UNSFDIETSP | Source | |
| Kong Bright Trading Co.Mong Kok, Hong Kong | Anise (star anise) (spice) | FILTHY | Source |
Questions about spices refusals from Hong Kong
- How many spices shipments from Hong Kong did FDA refuse in 2026?
- FDA refused 1 shipment line of spices from Hong Kong in 2026 through October 9, 2026.
- Why does FDA refuse spices from Hong Kong?
- FDA records a charge code on every refused shipment line. For spices from Hong Kong the most frequent are FILTHY (filthy, putrid or decomposed substance, 2 lines), SULFITELBL (SULFITELBL, 1 line) and UNSFDIETSP (dietary ingredient without safety assurance, 1 line). A charge describes what FDA's reference table says about one shipment line, not about every firm.
- Which import alerts cover spices from Hong Kong?
- As of October 26, 2026, no import alert numbered under this category lists a firm in Hong Kong in SupplierRadar's records. General food alerts numbered 99-xx can still list Hong Kong 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.