FDA import refusals
FDA import refusals: candy and chewing gum from Japan
FDA category: Candy without Chocolate, Candy Specialties, and Chewing Gum · October 2016 to October 6, 2026
FDA refused 308 candy and chewing gum shipment lines from Japan between October 2016 and October 6, 2026, 29 of them in 2026; the most refused products were flavored candy and jellied candy, most often for UNSAFE COL (color additive unsafe under section 721).
Data from FDA public records, last checked .
- 308
- candy and chewing gum lines refused since October 2016
- 29
- refused so far in 2026
- 10
- firms with the most records, listed below
Candy and chewing gum refusals from Japan 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) | 29 | |
| 2025 | 18 | -33% |
| 2024 | 27 | -44% |
| 2023 | 48 | +140% |
| 2022 | 20 | +11% |
| 2021 | 18 | -28% |
| 2020 | 25 | -54% |
| 2019 | 54 | +93% |
| 2018 | 28 | -22% |
| 2017 | 36 | |
| 2016 (from Oct) | 5 |
Flavored candy refusals from Japan
FDA refused 62 flavored candy lines from Japan between October 2016 and October 6, 2026, 20% of the candy and chewing gum lines.
| FDA product description | Lines | Share of candy and chewing gum |
|---|---|---|
| Flavored candy, hard (live savers, etc.), without nuts and fruit (without chocolate) | 62 | 20.1% |
Jellied candy refusals from Japan
FDA refused 46 jellied candy lines from Japan between October 2016 and October 6, 2026, 15% of the candy and chewing gum lines.
| FDA product description | Lines | Share of candy and chewing gum |
|---|---|---|
| Jellied candy, soft (jelly beans, gum drops, etc.), without nuts and fruit (without chocolate) | 46 | 14.9% |
Gel cups refusals from Japan
FDA refused 35 gel cups lines from Japan between October 2016 and October 6, 2026, 11% of the candy and chewing gum lines.
| FDA product description | Lines | Share of candy and chewing gum |
|---|---|---|
| Gel cups, fruit flavored | 35 | 11.4% |
Recent gel cups refusals
| Date | Firm | Product | Charges | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACE BAKERY.Co., LtdKomaki, Japan | Gel cups, fruit flavored | UNFIT4FOOD | Source | |
| ACE BAKERY.Co., LtdKomaki, Japan | Gel cups, fruit flavored | UNFIT4FOOD | Source | |
| ACE BAKERY.Co., LtdKomaki, Japan | Gel cups, fruit flavored | UNFIT4FOOD | Source | |
| ACE BAKERY.Co., LtdKomaki, Japan | Gel cups, fruit flavored | UNFIT4FOOD | Source | |
| ACE BAKERY.Co., LtdKomaki, Japan | Gel cups, fruit flavored | UNFIT4FOOD | Source |
Other candy and chewing gum products refused from Japan
| Product group | Lines | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Candy bar or pieces | 32 | 10.4% |
| Candy specialties | 27 | 8.8% |
| Soft candy without nuts and fruit | 22 | 7.1% |
| Gel cups candy | 19 | 6.2% |
| Chewing gum | 15 | 4.9% |
| Hard candy without nuts and fruit | 10 | 3.2% |
Why FDA refused candy and chewing gum from Japan
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 | 150 | 32% |
| NO ENGLISH | Required label information not in English | 116 | 25% |
| COLOR LBLG | Artificial coloring not declared | 64 | 14% |
| NUTRIT LBL | Nutrition information missing from label | 36 | 8% |
| LIST INGRE | Ingredients not listed | 34 | 7% |
| UNFIT4FOOD | Unfit for food | 23 | 5% |
| LACKS N/C | Net quantity statement missing | 14 | 3% |
| USUAL NAME | Common or usual name missing | 12 | 3% |
| INCONSPICU | Required information not conspicuous | 10 | 2% |
| LABELING | Fair Packaging and Labeling Act | 8 | 2% |
Import alerts for candy and chewing gum that list Japan firms
| Alert | Covers | Red | Green |
|---|---|---|---|
| 33-15 | Mini-cup gel and jelly candies of firm consistency | 1 |
Japan candy and chewing gum firms with the most FDA records
Counts are FDA records in SupplierRadar's data, not a ranking of quality.
| Firm | City | FDA records |
|---|---|---|
| Ribon Company, Ltd. | Komaki | 35 |
| ACE BAKERY.Co., Ltd | Komaki | 24 |
| UHA Mikakuto Co.,Ltd. | Yamatokoriyama | 23 |
| Okazaki bussan | Koshigaya | 15 |
| Takashina Shoji Co., Ltd. | Kobe | 12 |
| Morinaga Co Ltd | Minato | 9 |
| Kabaya Shokuhin Okayama Factory | OKAYAMA-CHI | 8 |
| Sakuma Confectionery Asama Plant | Saku | 8 |
| Fujiya Co., Ltd. | Hadano | 8 |
| Yaokin Co., Ltd. | SUMIDA-KU | 7 |
Latest candy and chewing gum refusals from Japan
| Date | Firm | Product | Charges | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morinaga Co LtdMinato, Japan | Candy specialties, n.e.c. (without chocolate) | NO ENGLISH | Source | |
| Eye Factory Co., LtdGifushigifuc, Japan | Candy specialties, n.e.c. (without chocolate) | NO ENGLISH | Source | |
| Eye Factory Co., LtdGifushigifuc, Japan | Candy specialties, n.e.c. (without chocolate) | NO ENGLISH | Source | |
| Asahi Group Foods LtdAzumaba, Japan | Candy specialties, n.e.c. (without chocolate) | NO ENGLISH | Source | |
| Akai Bohshi Co LtdShibuya, Japan | Candy specialties, n.e.c. (without chocolate) | NO ENGLISH | Source | |
| ACE BAKERY.Co., LtdKomaki, Japan | Soft candy without nuts and fruit, n.e.c. (without chocolate) | UNFIT4FOOD | Source | |
| ACE BAKERY.Co., LtdKomaki, Japan | Gel cups, fruit flavored | UNFIT4FOOD | Source | |
| ACE BAKERY.Co., LtdKomaki, Japan | Gel cups, fruit flavored | UNFIT4FOOD | Source | |
| ACE BAKERY.Co., LtdKomaki, Japan | Soft candy without nuts and fruit, n.e.c. (without chocolate) | UNFIT4FOOD | Source | |
| ACE BAKERY.Co., LtdKomaki, Japan | Soft candy without nuts and fruit, n.e.c. (without chocolate) | UNFIT4FOOD | Source | |
| ACE BAKERY.Co., LtdKomaki, Japan | Gel cups, fruit flavored | UNFIT4FOOD | Source | |
| ACE BAKERY.Co., LtdKomaki, Japan | Gel cups, fruit flavored | UNFIT4FOOD | Source | |
| ACE BAKERY.Co., LtdKomaki, Japan | Gel cups, fruit flavored | UNFIT4FOOD | Source | |
| ACE BAKERY.Co., LtdKomaki, Japan | Gel cups, fruit flavored | UNFIT4FOOD | Source | |
| ACE BAKERY.Co., LtdKomaki, Japan | Gel cups, fruit flavored | UNSAFE COL | Source | |
| ACE BAKERY.Co., LtdKomaki, Japan | Gel cups, fruit flavored | UNFIT4FOOD | Source | |
| ACE BAKERY.Co., LtdKomaki, Japan | Gel cups, fruit flavored | UNFIT4FOOD | Source | |
| ACE BAKERY.Co., LtdKomaki, Japan | Gel cups, fruit flavored | UNFIT4FOOD | Source | |
| ACE BAKERY.Co., LtdKomaki, Japan | Gel cups, fruit flavored | UNFIT4FOOD | Source | |
| ACE BAKERY.Co., LtdKomaki, Japan | Gel cups, fruit flavored | UNFIT4FOOD | Source |
Questions about candy and chewing gum refusals from Japan
- How many candy and chewing gum shipments from Japan did FDA refuse in 2026?
- FDA refused 29 shipment lines of candy and chewing gum from Japan in 2026 through October 6, 2026, compared with 18 in 2025.
- Why does FDA refuse candy and chewing gum from Japan?
- FDA records a charge code on every refused shipment line. For candy and chewing gum from Japan the most frequent are UNSAFE COL (color additive unsafe under section 721, 150 lines), NO ENGLISH (required label information not in English, 116 lines) and COLOR LBLG (artificial coloring not declared, 64 lines). A charge describes what FDA's reference table says about one shipment line, not about every firm.
- Which import alerts cover candy and chewing gum from Japan?
- As of October 26, 2026, the FDA import alerts for this category that list Japan firms are Import Alert 33-15 (1 firm). General food alerts numbered 99-xx can list Japan firms too; see the country page.
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