FDA import refusals
FDA import refusals: berries and citrus from South Africa
FDA category: Fruit and Fruit Products (berries, citrus and core fruits) · October 2016 to September 18, 2026
FDA refused 47 berries and citrus shipment lines from South Africa between October 2016 and September 18, 2026, 1 of them in 2026; the most refused products were raisins and grapes, most often for FILTHY (filthy, putrid or decomposed substance).
Data from FDA public records, last checked .
- 47
- berries and citrus lines refused since October 2016
- 1
- refused so far in 2026
- 5
- firms with the most records, listed below
Berries and citrus refusals from South Africa 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 | |
| 2025 | 4 | +33% |
| 2024 | 3 | -73% |
| 2023 | 11 | +22% |
| 2022 | 9 | |
| 2020 | 2 | -80% |
| 2019 | 10 | +67% |
| 2018 | 6 | +500% |
| 2017 | 1 |
Raisins refusals from South Africa
FDA refused 36 raisins lines from South Africa between October 2016 and September 18, 2026, 77% of the berries and citrus lines.
| FDA product description | Lines | Share of berries and citrus |
|---|---|---|
| Raisins (dried grapes) (berry) | 32 | 68.1% |
| Raisins, dried or paste | 4 | 8.5% |
Recent raisins refusals
| Date | Firm | Product | Charges | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vdc Raisins (Pty) LtdUpington, South Africa | Raisins (dried grapes) (berry) | FILTHY | Source | |
| Pioneer Foods GroceriesUpington, South Africa | Raisins, dried or paste | FILTHY | Source | |
| Taste Africa Foods (Pty) LtdCape Town, South Africa | Raisins, dried or paste | FILTHY | Source | |
| RedSun Dried Fruit and Nuts (pty), Ltd.Keimoes, South Africa | Raisins (dried grapes) (berry) | FILTHY | Source | |
| Pioneer Foods GroceriesUpington, South Africa | Raisins (dried grapes) (berry) | FILTHY | Source |
Grapes refusals from South Africa
FDA refused 9 grapes lines from South Africa between October 2016 and September 18, 2026, 19% of the berries and citrus lines.
| FDA product description | Lines | Share of berries and citrus |
|---|---|---|
| Grapes (berry) | 9 | 19.1% |
Recent grapes refusals
| Date | Firm | Product | Charges | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Desert Raisins (Pty) LtdKanoneiland, South Africa | Grapes (berry) | PESTICIDE | Source | |
| Desert Raisins (Pty) LtdKanoneiland, South Africa | Grapes (berry) | PESTICIDE | Source | |
| Desert Raisins (Pty) LtdKanoneiland, South Africa | Grapes (berry) | PESTICIDE | Source | |
| Desert Raisins (Pty) LtdKanoneiland, South Africa | Grapes (berry) | PESTICIDE | Source |
Currants black refusals from South Africa
FDA refused 1 currants black line from South Africa between October 2016 and September 18, 2026, 2% of the berries and citrus lines.
| FDA product description | Lines | Share of berries and citrus |
|---|---|---|
| Currants black, dried or paste | 1 | 2.1% |
Other berries and citrus products refused from South Africa
| Product group | Lines | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Strawberry | 1 | 2.1% |
Why FDA refused berries and citrus from South Africa
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 | 27 | 56% |
| PESTICIDE | Pesticide chemical residue | 15 | 31% |
| FOREIGN OB | Appears to contain foreign objects. | 2 | 4% |
| STD QUALIT | Appears to be misbranded within the meaning of Section 403(h)(1) of the FD&C Act in that the article… | 2 | 4% |
| UNSAFE ADD | Food additive unsafe under section 409 | 1 | 2% |
| UNSAFE COL | Color additive unsafe under section 721 | 1 | 2% |
South Africa berries and citrus firms with the most FDA records
Counts are FDA records in SupplierRadar's data, not a ranking of quality.
| Firm | City | FDA records |
|---|---|---|
| Desert Raisins (Pty) Ltd | Kanoneiland | 22 |
| Pioneer Foods Groceries | Upington | 5 |
| Carpe Diem Raisins | Upington | 4 |
| Tiger Consumer Brands Pty Ltd | Paarl | 1 |
| Pioneer Foods (Pty) Ltd | Paal | 1 |
Latest berries and citrus refusals from South Africa
| Date | Firm | Product | Charges | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tiger Consumer Brands Pty LtdPaarl, South Africa | Strawberry, jam, jelly, preserves, marmalade, butter and candied | UNSAFE COL | Source | |
| Vdc Raisins (Pty) LtdUpington, South Africa | Raisins (dried grapes) (berry) | FILTHY | Source | |
| Pioneer Foods GroceriesUpington, South Africa | Raisins, dried or paste | FILTHY | Source | |
| Taste Africa Foods (Pty) LtdCape Town, South Africa | Raisins, dried or paste | FILTHY | Source | |
| RedSun Dried Fruit and Nuts (pty), Ltd.Keimoes, South Africa | Raisins (dried grapes) (berry) | FILTHY | Source | |
| Pioneer Foods GroceriesUpington, South Africa | Raisins (dried grapes) (berry) | FILTHY | Source | |
| Pioneer Foods GroceriesUpington, South Africa | Raisins (dried grapes) (berry) | FILTHY | Source | |
| Pioneer Foods Groceries LtdPaarl, South Africa | Raisins (dried grapes) (berry) | FILTHY | Source | |
| Desert Raisins (Pty) LtdKanoneiland, South Africa | Raisins (dried grapes) (berry) | FILTHY | Source | |
| Pioneer Foods GroceriesUpington, South Africa | Raisins (dried grapes) (berry) | FILTHY | Source | |
| Pioneer Foods GroceriesUpington, South Africa | Raisins (dried grapes) (berry) | FILTHY | Source | |
| Carpe Diem RaisinsUpington, South Africa | Raisins (dried grapes) (berry) | FILTHY | Source | |
| Carpe Diem RaisinsUpington, South Africa | Raisins (dried grapes) (berry) | FILTHY | Source | |
| Desert Raisins (Pty) LtdKanoneiland, South Africa | Grapes (berry) | PESTICIDE | Source | |
| Desert Raisins (Pty) LtdKanoneiland, South Africa | Grapes (berry) | PESTICIDE | Source | |
| Desert Raisins (Pty) LtdKanoneiland, South Africa | Grapes (berry) | PESTICIDE | Source | |
| Desert Raisins (Pty) LtdKanoneiland, South Africa | Grapes (berry) | PESTICIDE | Source | |
| Ceres Friut Juices (Pty) LtdPaarl, South Africa | Raisins (dried grapes) (berry) | STD QUALIT | Source | |
| Ceres Friut Juices (Pty) LtdPaarl, South Africa | Raisins (dried grapes) (berry) | STD QUALIT | Source | |
| Ceres Friut Juices (Pty) LtdPaarl, South Africa | Raisins (dried grapes) (berry) | FILTHY | Source |
Questions about berries and citrus refusals from South Africa
- How many berries and citrus shipments from South Africa did FDA refuse in 2026?
- FDA refused 1 shipment line of berries and citrus from South Africa in 2026 through September 18, 2026, compared with 4 in 2025.
- Why does FDA refuse berries and citrus from South Africa?
- FDA records a charge code on every refused shipment line. For berries and citrus from South Africa the most frequent are FILTHY (filthy, putrid or decomposed substance, 27 lines), PESTICIDE (pesticide chemical residue, 15 lines) and FOREIGN OB (FOREIGN OB, 2 lines). A charge describes what FDA's reference table says about one shipment line, not about every firm.
- Which import alerts cover berries and citrus from South Africa?
- As of October 26, 2026, no import alert numbered under this category lists a firm in South Africa in SupplierRadar's records. General food alerts numbered 99-xx can still list South Africa 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.