FDA import refusals
FDA import refusals: spices from Japan
FDA category: Spices, Flavors, and Salts · October 2016 to September 25, 2025
FDA refused 10 spices shipment lines from Japan between October 2016 and September 25, 2025, 3 of them in 2025; the most refused products were ginger and mixed spices and seasoning with salt, most often for NO ENGLISH (required label information not in English).
Data from FDA public records, last checked .
- 10
- spices lines refused since October 2016
- 3
- refused so far in 2025
- 4
- firms with the most records, listed below
Spices 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3 | |
| 2023 | 1 | -50% |
| 2022 | 2 | |
| 2018 | 3 | +200% |
| 2017 | 1 |
Ginger refusals from Japan
FDA refused 2 ginger lines from Japan between October 2016 and September 25, 2025, 20% of the spices lines.
| FDA product description | Lines | Share of spices |
|---|---|---|
| Ginger, whole (spice) | 2 | 20.0% |
Recent ginger refusals
| Date | Firm | Product | Charges | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miyagishoten, Y.K.Chikuma, Japan | Ginger, whole (spice) | UNSAFE COLCOLOR LBLG | Source | |
| Tokyo Niitakaya Co. Ltd.Chuo, Japan | Ginger, whole (spice) | UNSAFE COLCOLOR LBLGNEEDS FCE+1 | Source |
Mixed spices and seasoning with salt refusals from Japan
FDA refused 2 mixed spices and seasoning with salt lines from Japan between October 2016 and September 25, 2025, 20% of the spices lines.
| FDA product description | Lines | Share of spices |
|---|---|---|
| Mixed spices and seasoning with salt, n.e.c. | 2 | 20.0% |
Recent mixed spices and seasoning with salt refusals
| Date | Firm | Product | Charges | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hichifuku Jyozo Co.,Ltd.Hekinan, Japan | Mixed spices and seasoning with salt, n.e.c | IMPTRHACCP | Source | |
| Hichifuku Jyozo Co.,Ltd.Hekinan, Japan | Mixed spices and seasoning with salt, n.e.c | IMPTRHACCP | Source |
Meat tenderizer refusals from Japan
FDA refused 1 meat tenderizer line from Japan between October 2016 and September 25, 2025, 10% of the spices lines.
| FDA product description | Lines | Share of spices |
|---|---|---|
| Meat tenderizer (with salt) | 1 | 10.0% |
Recent meat tenderizer refusals
| Date | Firm | Product | Charges | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uha MikakutoOsaka, Japan | Meat tenderizer (with salt) | INCONSPICU | Source |
Other spices products refused from Japan
| Product group | Lines | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Mixed spice and seaonings | 1 | 10.0% |
| Pepper | 1 | 10.0% |
| Raw material for extracts and flavors | 1 | 10.0% |
| Spices | 1 | 10.0% |
| Whole spice | 1 | 10.0% |
Why FDA refused spices from Japan
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 | 3 | 18% |
| COLOR LBLG | Artificial coloring not declared | 2 | 12% |
| IMPTRHACCP | The food appears to have been prepared, packed or held under insanitary conditions, or may have become… | 2 | 12% |
| NEEDS FCE | Processor not registered for canned or acidified foods | 2 | 12% |
| NO PROCESS | No scheduled process filed | 2 | 12% |
| UNSAFE COL | Color additive unsafe under section 721 | 2 | 12% |
| INCONSPICU | Required information not conspicuous | 1 | 6% |
| LABELING | Fair Packaging and Labeling Act | 1 | 6% |
| LACKS FIRM | Manufacturer name and address missing | 1 | 6% |
| LIST INGRE | Ingredients not listed | 1 | 6% |
Japan spices firms with the most FDA records
Counts are FDA records in SupplierRadar's data, not a ranking of quality.
| Firm | City | FDA records |
|---|---|---|
| Hichifuku Jyozo Co.,Ltd. | Hekinan | 2 |
| Fibro Pharmaceutical Co Ltd | Adachi | 1 |
| Ucc | Kobe | 1 |
| Uha Mikakuto | Osaka | 1 |
Latest spices refusals from Japan
| Date | Firm | Product | Charges | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hichifuku Jyozo Co.,Ltd.Hekinan, Japan | Mixed spices and seasoning with salt, n.e.c | IMPTRHACCP | Source | |
| Hichifuku Jyozo Co.,Ltd.Hekinan, Japan | Mixed spices and seasoning with salt, n.e.c | IMPTRHACCP | Source | |
| Miyagishoten, Y.K.Chikuma, Japan | Ginger, whole (spice) | UNSAFE COLCOLOR LBLG | Source | |
| Uha MikakutoOsaka, Japan | Meat tenderizer (with salt) | INCONSPICU | Source | |
| UccKobe, Japan | Whole spice, n.e.c | NO ENGLISH | Source | |
| Tokyo Niitakaya Co. Ltd.Chuo, Japan | Ginger, whole (spice) | UNSAFE COLCOLOR LBLGNEEDS FCE+1 | Source | |
| Urakari Bussan Co., Ltd.Kure, Japan | Spices, flavors and salt not mentioned elsewhere, n.e.c | NO ENGLISH | Source | |
| Ichiban Foods Co., Ltd.Iizuka, Japan | Pepper, mixed | LIST INGRELACKS FIRMNO ENGLISH+1 | Source | |
| Nakazen Co LtdNanjo, Japan | Mixed spice and seaonings, without salt, n.e.c | LABELINGNEEDS FCENO PROCESS | Source | |
| Fibro Pharmaceutical Co LtdAdachi, Japan | Raw material for extracts and flavors, n.e.c | UNAPPROVED | Source |
Questions about spices refusals from Japan
- How many spices shipments from Japan did FDA refuse in 2025?
- FDA refused 3 shipment lines of spices from Japan in 2025 through September 25, 2025.
- Why does FDA refuse spices from Japan?
- FDA records a charge code on every refused shipment line. For spices from Japan the most frequent are NO ENGLISH (required label information not in English, 3 lines), COLOR LBLG (artificial coloring not declared, 2 lines) and IMPTRHACCP (IMPTRHACCP, 2 lines). A charge describes what FDA's reference table says about one shipment line, not about every firm.
- Which import alerts cover spices from Japan?
- As of October 26, 2026, no import alert numbered under this category lists a firm in Japan in SupplierRadar's records. General food alerts numbered 99-xx can still list Japan firms; see the country page.
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