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FDA import refusals

FDA import refusals from South Korea

Food, dietary supplements and animal food · October 2016 to October 4, 2026 · how the data is collected

FDA refused 1,658 shipment lines from South Korea between October 2016 and October 2026, including 226 in 2026 through October 4, 2026; the most common charges were NO ENGLISH, NUTRIT LBL and LIST INGRE, and the most refused category was root vegetables and mushrooms.

Data from FDA public records, last checked .

1,658
refused shipment lines since October 2016
226
refused so far in 2026
1,168
South Korea firms with an FDA record
355
firms on an active import alert

Refusals from South Korea by year

Shipment lines FDA refused each year. The table has the same numbers as the chart.
Bar chart: refusal lines by 2016 to 2026. The same numbers are in the table.01002003002016 (from October 1): 42 refusal lines’162017: 237 refusal lines237’172018: 173 refusal lines’182019: 142 refusal lines’192020: 179 refusal lines’202021: 148 refusal lines’212022: 103 refusal lines’222023: 151 refusal lines’232024: 130 refusal lines’242025: 127 refusal lines’252026 (year to date): 226 refusal lines226’26*
* 2026 is year to date, through October 4, 2026. FDA's refusal data starts on October 1, 2016, so 2016 covers three months.
Refusal lines by year
YearRefusal linesvs prior year
2026 (to date)226
2025127-2%
2024130-14%
2023151+47%
2022103-30%
2021148-17%
2020179+26%
2019142-18%
2018173-27%
2017237
2016 (from Oct)42

Why FDA refused South Korea shipment lines

FDA records a charge code on each refused line; one line can carry several. Each code opens FDA's official statement and the countries and products behind it.
Most frequent refusal charges for South Korea
Charge codeMeaningLinesShare
NO ENGLISHRequired label information not in English29516%
NUTRIT LBLNutrition information missing from label29316%
LIST INGREIngredients not listed27615%
LISTERIAListeria monocytogenes19711%
NO PROCESSNo scheduled process filed1569%
ALLERGENMajor food allergen not declared1488%
FALSEFalse or misleading labeling1287%
POISONOUSPoisonous or deleterious substance1116%
PESTICIDEPesticide chemical residue1096%
LACKS N/CNet quantity statement missing1046%

What FDA refused from South Korea, by product category

FDA product categories, most refused first. Open a category for its product, charge and firm tables.
FDA import refusals from South Korea by product category
CategoryMost refused productsLines
Root vegetables and mushroomsVegetables and Vegetable Products (root and tuber vegetables, fungi)Enokitake mushrooms, whole (button) (fungi); Enokitake; Ginseng, juice or drink (root & tuber vegetable)329
SeafoodFishery/Seafood ProductsAnchovy; Squid, other aquatic species; Pollack, pollock303
Dietary supplementsVitamins, Minerals, Proteins, and Unconventional Dietary SpecialtiesVitamin, mineral, proteins and unconventional dietary specialities for humans and animals, n.e.c.; Herbals & botanicals (not teas), n.e.c.; Ginseng (herbal & botanical teas)143
Noodles and pastaMacaroni and Noodle ProductsNoodles, instant; Oriental noodles (flavored with shrimp,chicken,beef,lobster,crab,plain,etc.); Rice flakes/paper139
Snack foodsSnack Food ItemsSeaweed snacks (flavored or unflavored), vegetable snacks (other than pulses) baked; Snack foods not elsewhere mentioned, n.e.c.; Fried snack foods, n.e.c.95
Soft drinks and waterSoft Drinks and WatersNoncarbonated soft drink, n.e.c.; Nonalcoholic beverages, n.e.c.; Soft drink, other fruit flavored, noncarbonated90
Vegetables (legumes and leafy)Vegetables and Vegetable Products (legumes, leaf and stem, fruit vegetables)Seaweed, dried or paste; Leaf & stem vegetables, dried or paste, n.e.c.; Leaf and stem vegetables, juice or drink, n.e.c.82
Candy and chewing gumCandy without Chocolate, Candy Specialties, and Chewing GumJellied candy, soft (jelly beans, gum drops, etc.), without nuts and fruit (without chocolate); Hard candy without nuts and fruit, n.e.c. (without chocolate); Flavored candy, hard (live savers, etc.), without nuts and fruit (without chocolate)75
Bakery productsBakery Products, Doughs, Bakery Mixes, and IcingsChocolate filled/iced cookies,biscuits and wafers; Chocolate plain cookies,biscuits and wafers; Plain cookies,biscuits and wafers, n.e.c.61
Coffee and teaCoffee and TeaTea with honey; Tea, n.e.c.; Kohyang yulmuch tea (adlay flour, soybean powder, barley flour)55
Meal replacementsDietary Conventional Foods and Meal ReplacementsMeal replacements (not labeled for treatment of disease); Dietary conventional foods, n.e.c.; Foods with supplemental nutrients added, with or without artifical sweetners49
Vine and other fruitFruit and Fruit Products (vine and other fruits)Persimmon, dried or paste; Persimmon (other fruit); Other fruits and fruit products, other fruit juices or concentrates, n.e.c.45
Pet foodPet and Laboratory Animal FoodsOther pet food, n.e.c.; Comb prod pet dog food; Combination products, pet treats35
Sauces and prepared mealsMultiple Food Dinners, Gravies, Sauces, and SpecialtiesBean curd, fresh - soft or hard (multiple food specialties, side dishes and desserts); Sauces, n.e.c.; Soy sauce31
SoupsSoupsSoup, n.e.c.; Vegetable (single ingredient not mentioned elsewhere) soup, creamed; Mixed vegetable soup, dried19
Berries and citrusFruit and Fruit Products (berries, citrus and core fruits)Strawberries, dried or paste; Berries, jam, jelly, preserves, marmalade, butter and candied, n.e.c.; Core fruit , topping or syrup (prickle pear cactus)17
Grains and starchWhole Grains, Milled Grain Products, and StarchRice meal processed (packaged); Rice, plain (white or polished) processed (packaged); Wheat flour, plain16
Tropical and pit fruitFruit and Fruit Products (pit, subtropical and tropical fruits)Plum, juice, pit fruit juices or concentrates; Chinese red date (jujubes, ziziphus jujuba), dried or paste; Apricot (pit fruit)12
Vegetable oilsVegetable Oils (Includes Olive Oil)Sesame oil, refined, single ingredient; Refined vegetable oil, single ingredient, n.e.c.; Vegetable oil seed stock, n.e.c.10
SpicesSpices, Flavors, and SaltsCapsicums (cayenne chili, hot peppers), ground, cracked (spice); Mixed spice and seaonings, without salt, n.e.c.; Mixed spices and seasonings, liquid, with salt, n.e.c.8
Cereals and breakfast foodsCereal Preparations, Breakfast FoodsBreakfast food quick or instant cooking, n.e.c.; Breakfast foods ready to eat,n.e.c.; Mixed cereal flakes,shredded and other forms ready to eat7
Baby foodBaby (Infant and Junior) Food ProductsCereal, n.e.c. (baby); Fruits used as vegetables (tomatoes, squash, etc.) (baby); Fish-seafood products, n.e.c. (baby)7
Beverage basesBeverage BasesBeverage base not mentioned elsewhere, n.e.c.; Fruit beverage bases, liquid, n.e.c.; Beverage base, subtropical or tropical fruit6
Imitation milkFilled Milk and Imitation Milk ProductsFilled or imitation milk or milk type products not elsewhere mentioned, n.e.c.; Imitation milk, fluid milk type product4
Nuts and seedsNuts and Edible SeedsChestnut, nut flour/meal; Chestnut, shelled; Chestnut, topping4
Chocolate and cocoaChocolate and Cocoa ProductsChocolate and cocoa products for baking, n.e.c.; Chocolate and cocoa beverage base, n.e.c.; Chocolate bars4
Dressings and condimentsDressings and CondimentsPepper sauce (hot, mild, etc.); Condiments, n.e.c.3
Animal feedNon-Medicated Animal FeedsVitamins3
Gelatin and puddingsGelatin, Rennet, Pudding Mixes, and Pie FillingsGelatin, n.e.c.; Grass jelly (gelatin product)2
SweetenersFood Sweeteners (Nutritive)Grape sugar (frutose); Honey, n.e.c.2
Ice creamIce Cream and Related ProductsIce cream bars1
Food additives (flavors and colors)Food Additives for Human Use (flavors, colors, leavening and other agents)Flavoring agents and adjuvants (food additives for human use)1

Most refused products from South Korea

FDA's product descriptions on the refused lines, grouped case-insensitively.
Most refused products from South Korea
ProductLinesShare
Enokitake mushrooms, whole (button) (fungi)1388.3%
Noodles, instant1046.3%
Enokitake744.5%
Vitamin, mineral, proteins and unconventional dietary specialities for humans and animals, n.e.c.643.9%
Anchovy553.3%
Noncarbonated soft drink, n.e.c.452.7%
Squid, other aquatic species452.7%
Seaweed snacks (flavored or unflavored), vegetable snacks (other than pulses) baked442.7%
Tea with honey412.5%
Persimmon, dried or paste402.4%

FDA import alerts that list South Korea firms

28 alerts list at least one firm in South Korea: 349 firms on a red list, 355 firms on any list.
Import alerts listing firms in South Korea
AlertCoversRedGreen
45-02Foods with illegal or undeclared colors67
99-08Processed human and animal foods: pesticides58
16-74Uneviscerated salt-cured, dried, smoked or fermented fish435
16-39Ready-to-eat seafood: Listeria monocytogenes34
16-81Seafood products: Salmonella32
99-39Imported foods that appear to be misbranded28
16-120Seafood from processors not in compliance with HACCP22
99-37Low-acid canned/acidified foods without scheduled process17
99-23Produce: contamination with human pathogens16
99-38Low-acid canned/acidified foods: inadequate process control13
99-21Foods with undeclared added sulfiting agents9
99-22Undeclared or mislabeled major food allergens9

The 12 alerts with the most listings. All alerts are on the import alerts page.

South Korea firms with the most FDA records

Counts are FDA records in SupplierRadar's data (refusals, import alert listings and other events), not a ranking of quality.
South Korea firms with the most FDA records
FirmCityFDA records
Samyang Foods Co LtdSeoul107
Shinan 1004 Seaweed Co., Ltd.Shinan44
buddle village(innofarm)Gokseonggun44
Damtuh F&B Co., LTDSuncheon38
M.E.Co.,Ltd.Gumi38
Hee Chang Trading Company LTDSeo31
Lotte Wellfood Co., Ltd. (Yangsan Factory)Yangsan31
Myeongdeok FarmingCheongdo27
Banchandanji Co. Ltd.Seo District25
Daedong Korea Ginseng Co., Ltd.Geumsan-gun25

Latest refusals from South Korea

The 20 most recent refused lines, each with its FDA source.
Latest FDA import refusals from South Korea
DateFirmProductCharges
Sinji Soosan Co., Ltd.Wando, South KoreaSeaweed, dried or pastePOISONOUSSource
Sinji Soosan Co., Ltd.Wando, South KoreaSeaweed, dried or pastePOISONOUSSource
Sinji Soosan Co., Ltd.Wando, South KoreaSeaweed, dried or pastePOISONOUSSource
Sinji Soosan Co., Ltd.Wando, South KoreaSeaweed, dried or pastePOISONOUSSource
Sinji Soosan Co., Ltd.Wando, South KoreaSeaweed, dried or pastePOISONOUSSource
Sinji Soosan Co., Ltd.Wando, South KoreaSeaweed, dried or pastePOISONOUSSource
Sinji Soosan Co., Ltd.Wando, South KoreaSeaweed, dried or pastePOISONOUSSource
Sinji Soosan Co., Ltd.Wando, South KoreaSeaweed, dried or pastePOISONOUSSource
Silicon II Pa TeamBundang District, South KoreaMeal replacements (not labeled for treatment of disease)NO ENGLISHSource
AnD FoodBoryeong, South KoreaMusselsFILTHYSALMONELLASource
BukwangfoodGyeongsan, South KoreaMixed spices and seasonings, liquid, with salt, n.e.cLIST INGREPRESRV LBLUSUAL NAME+1Source
Ariul CompanyGunsan, South KoreaSole807REFUSALSource
Ariul CompanyGunsan, South KoreaSole807REFUSALSource
Ariul CompanyGunsan, South KoreaFilefish807REFUSALSource
JaYunWon Co., Ltd.Gwangju, South KoreaSquid, other aquatic speciesSALMONELLASource
Gipeunsaem Co.,LtdSunchang, South KoreaPepper, hot, dried or pasteREFUSE EISource
DroindChungcheongnam-do, South KoreaGinseng (herbal & botanical teas)NCONTACTSource
And FoodGangdong, South KoreaAnchovyFILTHYSource
And FoodGangdong, South KoreaAnchovyFILTHYSource
Sinji Soosan Co., Ltd.Wando, South KoreaSeaweed, dried or pastePOISONOUSSource

Questions about FDA refusals from South Korea

How many South Korea shipments did FDA refuse in 2026?
FDA refused 226 shipment lines from South Korea in 2026 through October 4, 2026, compared with 127 in 2025 (a full year).
Why does FDA refuse food from South Korea?
FDA records a charge code on every refused shipment line. For South Korea the most frequent are NO ENGLISH (required label information not in English, 295 lines), NUTRIT LBL (nutrition information missing from label, 293 lines) and LIST INGRE (ingredients not listed, 276 lines). A charge describes what FDA's reference table says about one shipment line; it is not a finding about every firm in the country.
Which South Korea firms have the most FDA refusals?
In SupplierRadar's records the South Korea firms with the most FDA records (refusals, import alert listings and other events) are Samyang Foods Co Ltd (Seoul) with 107 records, Shinan 1004 Seaweed Co., Ltd. (Shinan) with 44 records and buddle village(innofarm) (Gokseonggun) with 44 records. Each firm's page lists every record with its FDA source.
Which FDA import alerts list South Korea firms?
As of October 25, 2026, 28 FDA import alerts list at least one firm in South Korea. The alerts with the most South Korea listings are Import Alert 45-02 (67 firms), Import Alert 99-08 (58 firms) and Import Alert 16-74 (48 firms).
How many South Korea firms are on an FDA import alert red list?
As of October 25, 2026, 349 South Korea firms are on the red list of at least one FDA import alert in SupplierRadar's records, and 355 firms are on any list.

All South Korea suppliers with FDA records (549)

Every South Korea firm in SupplierRadar's data with an active import alert, a warning letter or at least five FDA records, most recently active first. Each name opens the firm's FDA record history.

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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.