FDA import refusals
FDA import refusals: edible insects from Mexico
FDA category: Edible Insects and Insect-Derived Foods · October 2016 to January 9, 2026
FDA refused 18 edible insects shipment lines from Mexico between October 2016 and January 9, 2026, 1 of them in 2026; the most refused products were edible insect salts and spices and edible insect salts, most often for UNSAFE COL (color additive unsafe under section 721).
Data from FDA public records, last checked .
- 18
- edible insects lines refused since October 2016
- 1
- refused so far in 2026
- 3
- firms with the most records, listed below
Edible insects 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) | 1 | |
| 2023 | 2 | -33% |
| 2022 | 3 | -40% |
| 2021 | 5 | +400% |
| 2020 | 1 | 0% |
| 2019 | 1 | -67% |
| 2018 | 3 | +50% |
| 2017 | 2 |
Edible insect salts and spices refusals from Mexico
FDA refused 7 edible insect salts and spices lines from Mexico between October 2016 and January 9, 2026, 39% of the edible insects lines.
| FDA product description | Lines | Share of edible insects |
|---|---|---|
| Edible insect salts and spices, n.e.c. | 7 | 38.9% |
Recent edible insect salts and spices refusals
| Date | Firm | Product | Charges | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Productora y Comercializadora Sphenarium S.A. de C.V.Santa Maria Coyotepec, Mexico | Edible insect salts and spices, n.e.c | POISONOUSNO ENGLISHNUTRIT LBL | Source | |
| Productora y Comercializadora Sphenarium S.A. de C.V.Santa Maria Coyotepec, Mexico | Edible insect salts and spices, n.e.c | UNSAFE COLCOLOR LBLG | Source | |
| Productora y Comercializadora Sphenarium S.A. de C.V.Santa Maria Coyotepec, Mexico | Edible insect salts and spices, n.e.c | UNSAFE COLCOLOR LBLG | Source | |
| Productora y Comercializadora Sphenarium S.A. de C.V.Santa Maria Coyotepec, Mexico | Edible insect salts and spices, n.e.c | UNSAFE COLCOLOR LBLG | Source | |
| Productora y Comercializadora Sphenarium S.A. de C.V.Santa Maria Coyotepec, Mexico | Edible insect salts and spices, n.e.c | UNSAFE COL | Source |
Edible insect salts refusals from Mexico
FDA refused 5 edible insect salts lines from Mexico between October 2016 and January 9, 2026, 28% of the edible insects lines.
| FDA product description | Lines | Share of edible insects |
|---|---|---|
| Edible insect salts | 5 | 27.8% |
Recent edible insect salts refusals
| Date | Firm | Product | Charges | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Productora y Comercializadora Sphenarium S.A. de C.V.Santa Maria Coyotepec, Mexico | Edible insect salts | UNSAFE COLINCONSPICUCOLOR LBLG | Source | |
| Productora y Comercializadora Sphenarium S.A. de C.V.Santa Maria Coyotepec, Mexico | Edible insect salts | UNSAFE COLINCONSPICU | Source | |
| Productora y Comercializadora Sphenarium S.A. de C.V.Santa Maria Coyotepec, Mexico | Edible insect salts | UNSAFE COLCOLOR LBLG | Source | |
| Productora y Comercializadora Sphenarium S.A. de C.V.Santa Maria Coyotepec, Mexico | Edible insect salts | UNSAFE COLCOLOR LBLGNO ENGLISH+1 | Source | |
| Productora y Comercializadora Sphenarium S.A. de C.V.Santa Maria Coyotepec, Mexico | Edible insect salts | UNSAFE COLCOLOR LBLGNO ENGLISH+1 | Source |
Grasshoppers refusals from Mexico
FDA refused 4 grasshoppers lines from Mexico between October 2016 and January 9, 2026, 22% of the edible insects lines.
| FDA product description | Lines | Share of edible insects |
|---|---|---|
| Grasshoppers | 4 | 22.2% |
Recent grasshoppers refusals
| Date | Firm | Product | Charges | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lino Remigio Silva MartinezOaxaca, Mexico | Grasshoppers | PB-FOOD | Source | |
| Delicias Oaxaquenas RamirezLoma Bonita, Mexico | Grasshoppers | POISONOUS | Source | |
| Delicias Oaxaquenas RamirezLoma Bonita, Mexico | Grasshoppers | POISONOUS | Source | |
| Exportadores del Sabor Oaxaqueno S.A. de C.V.Oaxaca De Juarez, Mexico | Grasshoppers | FILTHY | Source |
Other edible insects products refused from Mexico
| Product group | Lines | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Cricket flour | 1 | 5.6% |
| Pasta | 1 | 5.6% |
Why FDA refused edible insects 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 | 11 | 31% |
| COLOR LBLG | Artificial coloring not declared | 7 | 20% |
| NO ENGLISH | Required label information not in English | 4 | 11% |
| POISONOUS | Poisonous or deleterious substance | 4 | 11% |
| NUTRIT LBL | Nutrition information missing from label | 3 | 9% |
| INCONSPICU | Required information not conspicuous | 2 | 6% |
| FILTHY | Filthy, putrid or decomposed substance | 1 | 3% |
| LACKS N/C | Net quantity statement missing | 1 | 3% |
| PB-FOOD | Appears to contain a poisonous or deleterious substance, lead, which may render it injurious to health. | 1 | 3% |
| UNSAFE ADD | Food additive unsafe under section 409 | 1 | 3% |
Mexico edible insects firms with the most FDA records
Counts are FDA records in SupplierRadar's data, not a ranking of quality.
| Firm | City | FDA records |
|---|---|---|
| Productora y Comercializadora Sphenarium S.A. de C.V. | Santa Maria Coyotepec | 12 |
| Delicias Oaxaquenas Ramirez | Loma Bonita | 2 |
| Lino Remigio Silva Martinez | Oaxaca | 1 |
Latest edible insects refusals from Mexico
Questions about edible insects refusals from Mexico
- How many edible insects shipments from Mexico did FDA refuse in 2026?
- FDA refused 1 shipment line of edible insects from Mexico in 2026 through January 9, 2026.
- Why does FDA refuse edible insects from Mexico?
- FDA records a charge code on every refused shipment line. For edible insects from Mexico the most frequent are UNSAFE COL (color additive unsafe under section 721, 11 lines), COLOR LBLG (artificial coloring not declared, 7 lines) and NO ENGLISH (required label information not in English, 4 lines). A charge describes what FDA's reference table says about one shipment line, not about every firm.
- Which import alerts cover edible insects 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.