FDA import refusals
FDA import refusals: sauces and prepared meals from Mexico
FDA category: Multiple Food Dinners, Gravies, Sauces, and Specialties · October 2016 to October 2, 2026
FDA refused 246 sauces and prepared meals shipment lines from Mexico between October 2016 and October 2, 2026, 36 of them in 2026; the most refused products were mole paste and sauces, most often for UNSAFE COL (color additive unsafe under section 721).
Data from FDA public records, last checked .
- 246
- sauces and prepared meals lines refused since October 2016
- 36
- refused so far in 2026
- 10
- firms with the most records, listed below
Sauces and prepared meals refusals from Mexico 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) | 36 | |
| 2025 | 30 | +3% |
| 2024 | 29 | +38% |
| 2023 | 21 | +425% |
| 2022 | 4 | -82% |
| 2021 | 22 | +83% |
| 2020 | 12 | -72% |
| 2019 | 43 | +48% |
| 2018 | 29 | +81% |
| 2017 | 16 | |
| 2016 (from Oct) | 4 |
Mole paste refusals from Mexico
FDA refused 117 mole paste lines from Mexico between October 2016 and October 2, 2026, 48% of the sauces and prepared meals lines.
| FDA product description | Lines | Share of sauces and prepared meals |
|---|---|---|
| Mole paste | 117 | 47.6% |
Recent mole paste refusals
| Date | Firm | Product | Charges | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bueno Alimentos, S.A. de C.V.Santa Catarina, Mexico | Mole paste | FSVP VIO | Source | |
| Bueno Alimentos, S.A. de C.V.Santa Catarina, Mexico | Mole paste | FSVP VIO | Source | |
| Bueno Alimentos, S.A. de C.V.Santa Catarina, Mexico | Mole paste | FSVP VIO | Source | |
| Bueno Alimentos, S.A. de C.V.Santa Catarina, Mexico | Mole paste | FSVP VIO | Source | |
| Bueno Alimentos, S.A. de C.V.Santa Catarina, Mexico | Mole paste | FSVP VIO | Source |
Sauces refusals from Mexico
FDA refused 81 sauces lines from Mexico between October 2016 and October 2, 2026, 33% of the sauces and prepared meals lines.
| FDA product description | Lines | Share of sauces and prepared meals |
|---|---|---|
| Sauces, n.e.c. | 81 | 32.9% |
Recent sauces refusals
| Date | Firm | Product | Charges | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| El Yucateco Salsas Y CondimentosKanasin, Mexico | Sauces, n.e.c | INCONSPICUNO ENGLISH | Source | |
| La Anita Condimentos y Salsas, S.A. de C.VMerida, Mexico | Sauces, n.e.c | NO ENGLISH | Source | |
| Chilito Sirilo SA de CVTlajomulco De Zun Ga, Mexico | Sauces, n.e.c | UNSAFE ADDNEEDS FCENO PROCESS | Source | |
| Chilito Sirilo SA de CVTlajomulco De Zun Ga, Mexico | Sauces, n.e.c | UNSAFE ADDNEEDS FCENO PROCESS | Source | |
| Chilito Sirilo SA de CVTlajomulco De Zun Ga, Mexico | Sauces, n.e.c | UNSAFE ADDNEEDS FCENO PROCESS | Source |
Mole sauce refusals from Mexico
FDA refused 28 mole sauce lines from Mexico between October 2016 and October 2, 2026, 11% of the sauces and prepared meals lines.
| FDA product description | Lines | Share of sauces and prepared meals |
|---|---|---|
| Mole sauce | 28 | 11.4% |
Recent mole sauce refusals
| Date | Firm | Product | Charges | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cortes Cortes, PenelopeTecamac, Mexico | Mole sauce | NO ENGLISH | Source | |
| Cortes Cortes, PenelopeTecamac, Mexico | Mole sauce | LIST INGRESTD IDENTLACKS FIRM+2 | Source | |
| Cortes Cortes, PenelopeTecamac, Mexico | Mole sauce | LIST INGRELACKS FIRMLACKS N/C+2 | Source | |
| Mole Rojo EmperadorTeloloapan, Mexico | Mole sauce | FILTHYINCONSPICUNO ENGLISH+2 | Source | |
| Mole Rojo EmperadorTeloloapan, Mexico | Mole sauce | FILTHYINCONSPICUNO ENGLISH+2 | Source |
Other sauces and prepared meals products refused from Mexico
| Product group | Lines | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Pastes | 7 | 2.8% |
| Chili sauce | 5 | 2.0% |
| Gravies | 4 | 1.6% |
| Tamale | 3 | 1.2% |
| Plum sauce | 1 | 0.4% |
Why FDA refused sauces and prepared meals from Mexico
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 | 82 | 20% |
| COLOR LBLG | Artificial coloring not declared | 71 | 17% |
| LIST INGRE | Ingredients not listed | 40 | 10% |
| NUTRIT LBL | Nutrition information missing from label | 40 | 10% |
| NO PROCESS | No scheduled process filed | 37 | 9% |
| FSVP VIO | Importer not in compliance with FSVP | 33 | 8% |
| NEEDS FCE | Processor not registered for canned or acidified foods | 32 | 8% |
| INCONSPICU | Required information not conspicuous | 31 | 7% |
| NO ENGLISH | Required label information not in English | 29 | 7% |
| FILTHY | Filthy, putrid or decomposed substance | 20 | 5% |
Mexico sauces and prepared meals firms with the most FDA records
Counts are FDA records in SupplierRadar's data, not a ranking of quality.
| Firm | City | FDA records |
|---|---|---|
| Bueno Alimentos, S.A. de C.V. | Santa Catarina | 66 |
| Mole y Chocolates La Soledad | Oaxaca de Juarez | 25 |
| Mi Pueblito Tierra Buena SA de CV | San Franciso De Los Romo | 15 |
| Grupo Chi-So SA de CV | Guadalupe | 12 |
| Productos Mdm | Garza Garcia | 7 |
| Irving Betancourt Sotelo | Morelos | 7 |
| Salsa Tamazula, S. A. | Guadalajara | 7 |
| Chocolate Mayordomo de Oaxaca | Oaxaca | 6 |
| La Anita Condimentos y Salsas, S.A. de C.V | Merida | 6 |
| JC SNACKS Mexico DE RL | Tijuana | 6 |
Latest sauces and prepared meals refusals from Mexico
Questions about sauces and prepared meals refusals from Mexico
- How many sauces and prepared meals shipments from Mexico did FDA refuse in 2026?
- FDA refused 36 shipment lines of sauces and prepared meals from Mexico in 2026 through October 2, 2026, compared with 30 in 2025.
- Why does FDA refuse sauces and prepared meals from Mexico?
- FDA records a charge code on every refused shipment line. For sauces and prepared meals from Mexico the most frequent are UNSAFE COL (color additive unsafe under section 721, 82 lines), COLOR LBLG (artificial coloring not declared, 71 lines) and LIST INGRE (ingredients not listed, 40 lines). A charge describes what FDA's reference table says about one shipment line, not about every firm.
- Which import alerts cover sauces and prepared meals from Mexico?
- As of October 26, 2026, no import alert numbered under this category lists a firm in Mexico in SupplierRadar's records. General food alerts numbered 99-xx can still list Mexico 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.