FDA import refusals
FDA import refusals: seafood from Mexico
FDA category: Fishery/Seafood Products · October 2016 to May 4, 2026
FDA refused 174 seafood shipment lines from Mexico between October 2016 and May 4, 2026, 17 of them in 2026; the most refused products were crab and tuna, most often for FILTHY (filthy, putrid or decomposed substance).
Data from FDA public records, last checked .
- 174
- seafood lines refused since October 2016
- 17
- refused so far in 2026
- 10
- firms with the most records, listed below
Seafood 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) | 17 | |
| 2025 | 8 | -20% |
| 2024 | 10 | -57% |
| 2023 | 23 | -15% |
| 2022 | 27 | +238% |
| 2021 | 8 | -38% |
| 2020 | 13 | -46% |
| 2019 | 24 | 0% |
| 2018 | 24 | +33% |
| 2017 | 18 | |
| 2016 (from Oct) | 2 |
Crab refusals from Mexico
FDA refused 37 crab lines from Mexico between October 2016 and May 4, 2026, 21% of the seafood lines.
| FDA product description | Lines | Share of seafood |
|---|---|---|
| Crab | 37 | 21.3% |
Recent crab refusals
| Date | Firm | Product | Charges | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ana Laura Chavez EchegollenLos Mochis, Mexico | Crab | FILTHY | Source | |
| Ana Laura Chavez EchegollenLos Mochis, Mexico | Crab | FILTHY | Source | |
| Ana Laura Chavez EchegollenLos Mochis, Mexico | Crab | FILTHY | Source | |
| Ana Laura Chavez EchegollenLos Mochis, Mexico | Crab | FILTHY | Source | |
| Ana Laura Chavez EchegollenLos Mochis, Mexico | Crab | FILTHY | Source |
Tuna refusals from Mexico
FDA refused 32 tuna lines from Mexico between October 2016 and May 4, 2026, 18% of the seafood lines.
| FDA product description | Lines | Share of seafood |
|---|---|---|
| Tuna (albacore, yellowfin, bluefin, skipjack, etc.) | 24 | 13.8% |
| Tuna (albacore, yellowfin, bluefin, skipjack, etc.), hot smoked, fish | 8 | 4.6% |
Recent tuna refusals
| Date | Firm | Product | Charges | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arturo Manuel Romandia ToyosGuaymas, Mexico | Tuna (albacore, yellowfin, bluefin, skipjack, etc.) | UNSAFE COLCOLOR LBLG | Source |
Shrimp and prawns refusals from Mexico
FDA refused 14 shrimp and prawns lines from Mexico between October 2016 and May 4, 2026, 8% of the seafood lines.
| FDA product description | Lines | Share of seafood |
|---|---|---|
| Shrimp and prawns, aquaculture harvested fishery/seafood products | 14 | 8.0% |
Other seafood products refused from Mexico
| Product group | Lines | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Shrimp & prawns | 10 | 5.7% |
| Fish maw | 8 | 4.6% |
| Octopus | 8 | 4.6% |
| Scallops | 7 | 4.0% |
| Groupers | 5 | 2.9% |
| Hake | 5 | 2.9% |
Why FDA refused seafood from Mexico
FDA records a charge code on each refused line; one line can carry several.
| Charge code | Meaning | Lines | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| FILTHY | Filthy, putrid or decomposed substance | 62 | 29% |
| SALMONELLA | Salmonella | 51 | 24% |
| USUAL NAME | Common or usual name missing | 21 | 10% |
| FALSE | False or misleading labeling | 15 | 7% |
| LACKS FIRM | Manufacturer name and address missing | 12 | 6% |
| NO ENGLISH | Required label information not in English | 12 | 6% |
| LACKS N/C | Net quantity statement missing | 10 | 5% |
| VETDRUGRES | Animal drug residue | 10 | 5% |
| COLOR LBLG | Artificial coloring not declared | 9 | 4% |
| UNSAFE COL | Color additive unsafe under section 721 | 9 | 4% |
Import alerts for seafood that list Mexico firms
| Alert | Covers | Red | Green |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16-81 | Seafood products: Salmonella | 122 | |
| 16-74 | Uneviscerated salt-cured, dried, smoked or fermented fish | 6 | |
| 16-105 | Fish products: decomposition, histamine or indole | 6 | |
| 16-125 | Refrigerated raw fish in reduced oxygen packaging | 4 | |
| 16-39 | Ready-to-eat seafood: Listeria monocytogenes | 3 | |
| 16-120 | Seafood from processors not in compliance with HACCP | 3 | |
| 16-124 | Aquaculture seafood: unapproved drugs | 3 | |
| 16-129 | Seafood products: nitrofurans | 3 | |
| 16-02 | Dried shark fins, fish maws and shark cartilage: filth | 2 | |
| 16-04 | Seafood products that appear to be misbranded | 2 |
Mexico seafood firms with the most FDA records
Counts are FDA records in SupplierRadar's data, not a ranking of quality.
| Firm | City | FDA records |
|---|---|---|
| Bumble Bee Mexico, S. de R.L. de C.V. | Tapachula | 13 |
| Planta de Procesos GM, S.A. de C.V. | Ahome | 10 |
| Ana Laura Chavez Echegollen | Los Mochis | 10 |
| La Kalita Sc de RL de CV | Guaymas | 8 |
| Cortez Sea Food S.A. de C.V. | Ahome | 7 |
| Aquarium Seafood S.A. de C.V. | Huatabampo | 7 |
| San Carlos Blue Crab S.A. de C.V. | Rancho O Rancheria Centro | 6 |
| Hashtbt S.A. de C.V. | Culiacan | 6 |
| Iemarson SA de CV | Ciudad Obregon | 5 |
| La Toya Distribuciones SA de CV | Mazatlan | 5 |
Latest seafood refusals from Mexico
Questions about seafood refusals from Mexico
- How many seafood shipments from Mexico did FDA refuse in 2026?
- FDA refused 17 shipment lines of seafood from Mexico in 2026 through May 4, 2026, compared with 8 in 2025.
- Why does FDA refuse seafood from Mexico?
- FDA records a charge code on every refused shipment line. For seafood from Mexico the most frequent are FILTHY (filthy, putrid or decomposed substance, 62 lines), SALMONELLA (Salmonella, 51 lines) and USUAL NAME (common or usual name missing, 21 lines). A charge describes what FDA's reference table says about one shipment line, not about every firm.
- Which import alerts cover seafood from Mexico?
- As of October 25, 2026, the FDA import alerts for this category that list Mexico firms are Import Alert 16-81 (122 firms), Import Alert 16-74 (6 firms), Import Alert 16-105 (6 firms) and Import Alert 16-125 (4 firms). General food alerts numbered 99-xx can list Mexico 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.