FDA import refusals
FDA import refusals: sweeteners from India
FDA category: Food Sweeteners (Nutritive) · October 2016 to March 10, 2026
FDA refused 135 sweeteners shipment lines from India between October 2016 and March 10, 2026, 4 of them in 2026; the most refused products were syrups and molasses and honey, most often for UNSAFE COL (color additive unsafe under section 721).
Data from FDA public records, last checked .
- 135
- sweeteners lines refused since October 2016
- 4
- refused so far in 2026
- 10
- firms with the most records, listed below
Sweeteners refusals from India 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) | 4 | |
| 2025 | 29 | +164% |
| 2024 | 11 | -31% |
| 2023 | 16 | +7% |
| 2022 | 15 | 0% |
| 2021 | 15 | +67% |
| 2020 | 9 | -18% |
| 2019 | 11 | -35% |
| 2018 | 17 | +113% |
| 2017 | 8 |
Syrups and molasses refusals from India
FDA refused 80 syrups and molasses lines from India between October 2016 and March 10, 2026, 59% of the sweeteners lines.
| FDA product description | Lines | Share of sweeteners |
|---|---|---|
| Syrups and molasses, n.e.c. | 80 | 59.3% |
Recent syrups and molasses refusals
| Date | Firm | Product | Charges | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kalvert Foods India Pvt LtdMumbai, India | Syrups and molasses, n.e.c | UNSAFE COLCOLOR LBLG | Source | |
| Kalvert Foods India Pvt LtdMumbai, India | Syrups and molasses, n.e.c | UNSAFE COLCOLOR LBLG | Source | |
| Hamdard Laboratories (India)Imt Manesar, India | Syrups and molasses, n.e.c | UNSAFE COLCOLOR LBLG | Source | |
| Kalvert Foods India Pvt LtdMumbai, India | Syrups and molasses, n.e.c | UNSAFE COL | Source | |
| Kalvert Foods India Pvt LtdMumbai, India | Syrups and molasses, n.e.c | UNSAFE COLCOLOR LBLG | Source |
Honey refusals from India
FDA refused 20 honey lines from India between October 2016 and March 10, 2026, 15% of the sweeteners lines.
| FDA product description | Lines | Share of sweeteners |
|---|---|---|
| Honey | 20 | 14.8% |
Sugar products refusals from India
FDA refused 14 sugar products lines from India between October 2016 and March 10, 2026, 10% of the sweeteners lines.
| FDA product description | Lines | Share of sweeteners |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar products, n.e.c. | 14 | 10.4% |
Other sweeteners products refused from India
| Product group | Lines | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Invert sugar | 12 | 8.9% |
| Cane sugar | 3 | 2.2% |
| Comb honey | 2 | 1.5% |
| Food sweetners n.e.c. | 2 | 1.5% |
| Malt syrup | 1 | 0.7% |
| Molasses | 1 | 0.7% |
Why FDA refused sweeteners from India
FDA records a charge code on each refused line; one line can carry several.
| Charge code | Meaning | Lines | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| UNSAFE COL | Color additive unsafe under section 721 | 90 | 43% |
| COLOR LBLG | Artificial coloring not declared | 53 | 25% |
| NUTRIT LBL | Nutrition information missing from label | 16 | 8% |
| LACKS N/C | Net quantity statement missing | 14 | 7% |
| UNSAFE ADD | Food additive unsafe under section 409 | 9 | 4% |
| DIETARYLBL | Not identified as a dietary supplement | 6 | 3% |
| FOREIGN OB | Appears to contain foreign objects. | 6 | 3% |
| FSVP VIO | Importer not in compliance with FSVP | 6 | 3% |
| LIST INGRE | Ingredients not listed | 5 | 2% |
| INCONSPICU | Required information not conspicuous | 4 | 2% |
Import alerts for sweeteners that list India firms
| Alert | Covers | Red | Green |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36-04 | Honey and blended syrup: drug residues | 5 |
India sweeteners firms with the most FDA records
Counts are FDA records in SupplierRadar's data, not a ranking of quality.
| Firm | City | FDA records |
|---|---|---|
| Kalvert Foods India Pvt Ltd | Mumbai | 56 |
| Obson International Pvt. Ltd. | Mumbai | 17 |
| Healing Herbs | Distt - Kangra | 6 |
| APIS India Limited | Hardiwar | 5 |
| Sgr (777) Foods Private Limited | Gummidipoondi | 4 |
| Guruji Enterprises Private Limited | Haryana | 4 |
| Motumal Tanumal Sharbatwala'S Sons | Ahmedabad | 4 |
| Hamdard Laboratories (India) | Imt Manesar | 3 |
| Bee Hive Farms Pvt. Ltd. | Lakhowal | 3 |
| Guruji Products Pvt. Ltd. | Indore | 2 |
Latest sweeteners refusals from India
Questions about sweeteners refusals from India
- How many sweeteners shipments from India did FDA refuse in 2026?
- FDA refused 4 shipment lines of sweeteners from India in 2026 through March 10, 2026, compared with 29 in 2025.
- Why does FDA refuse sweeteners from India?
- FDA records a charge code on every refused shipment line. For sweeteners from India the most frequent are UNSAFE COL (color additive unsafe under section 721, 90 lines), COLOR LBLG (artificial coloring not declared, 53 lines) and NUTRIT LBL (nutrition information missing from label, 16 lines). A charge describes what FDA's reference table says about one shipment line, not about every firm.
- Which import alerts cover sweeteners from India?
- As of October 26, 2026, the FDA import alerts for this category that list India firms are Import Alert 36-04 (5 firms). General food alerts numbered 99-xx can list India firms too; 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.