FDA import refusals
FDA import refusals: spices from Vietnam
FDA category: Spices, Flavors, and Salts · October 2016 to September 24, 2026
FDA refused 111 spices shipment lines from Vietnam between October 2016 and September 24, 2026, 9 of them in 2026; the most refused products were cinnamon and capsicums, most often for SALMONELLA (Salmonella).
Data from FDA public records, last checked .
- 111
- spices lines refused since October 2016
- 9
- refused so far in 2026
- 10
- firms with the most records, listed below
Spices refusals from Vietnam 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) | 9 | |
| 2025 | 9 | -40% |
| 2024 | 15 | +114% |
| 2023 | 7 | -42% |
| 2022 | 12 | +50% |
| 2021 | 8 | -27% |
| 2020 | 11 | +83% |
| 2019 | 6 | -40% |
| 2018 | 10 | -55% |
| 2017 | 22 | |
| 2016 (from Oct) | 2 |
Cinnamon refusals from Vietnam
FDA refused 37 cinnamon lines from Vietnam between October 2016 and September 24, 2026, 33% of the spices lines.
| FDA product description | Lines | Share of spices |
|---|---|---|
| Cinnamon, cassia, ground, cracked (spice) | 32 | 28.8% |
| Cinnamon, cassia, whole (spice) | 5 | 4.5% |
Recent cinnamon refusals
| Date | Firm | Product | Charges | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pearl CorpHochi Minh, Vietnam | Cinnamon, cassia, ground, cracked (spice) | FILTHY | Source | |
| Elmar Trading & Production Co.Ltd.Hanoi, Vietnam | Cinnamon, cassia, whole (spice) | FILTHY | Source | |
| Elmar Trading & Production Co.Ltd.Hanoi, Vietnam | Cinnamon, cassia, ground, cracked (spice) | PB-FOOD | Source | |
| DK Foods CompanyCan Giuoc, Vietnam | Cinnamon, cassia, ground, cracked (spice) | PB-FOOD | Source | |
| DK Foods CompanyCan Giuoc, Vietnam | Cinnamon, cassia, ground, cracked (spice) | POISONOUS | Source |
Capsicums refusals from Vietnam
FDA refused 20 capsicums lines from Vietnam between October 2016 and September 24, 2026, 18% of the spices lines.
| FDA product description | Lines | Share of spices |
|---|---|---|
| Capsicums (cayenne chili, hot peppers), whole (spice) | 15 | 13.5% |
| Capsicums (cayenne chili, hot peppers), ground, cracked (spice) | 5 | 4.5% |
Whole spice refusals from Vietnam
FDA refused 9 whole spice lines from Vietnam between October 2016 and September 24, 2026, 8% of the spices lines.
| FDA product description | Lines | Share of spices |
|---|---|---|
| Whole spice, n.e.c. | 9 | 8.1% |
Recent whole spice refusals
| Date | Firm | Product | Charges | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A&A Foods Company LimitedMy Hanh Commune, Vietnam | Whole spice, n.e.c | FSVP VIO | Source | |
| Bon Odile Company LimitedHo Chi Minh, Vietnam | Whole spice, n.e.c | 807REFUSAL | Source | |
| saka saka company limitedHo Chi Minh, Vietnam | Whole spice, n.e.c | PESTICIDE | Source |
Other spices products refused from Vietnam
| Product group | Lines | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Pepper | 9 | 8.1% |
| Lesser galangale | 8 | 7.2% |
| Bay | 4 | 3.6% |
| Turmeric | 4 | 3.6% |
Why FDA refused spices from Vietnam
FDA records a charge code on each refused line; one line can carry several.
| Charge code | Meaning | Lines | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| SALMONELLA | Salmonella | 38 | 33% |
| POISONOUS | Poisonous or deleterious substance | 23 | 20% |
| FILTHY | Filthy, putrid or decomposed substance | 15 | 13% |
| PB-FOOD | Appears to contain a poisonous or deleterious substance, lead, which may render it injurious to health. | 14 | 12% |
| PESTICIDE | Pesticide chemical residue | 11 | 10% |
| FSVP VIO | Importer not in compliance with FSVP | 4 | 4% |
| NO ENGLISH | Required label information not in English | 4 | 4% |
| NO PROCESS | No scheduled process filed | 2 | 2% |
| UNSAFE ADD | Food additive unsafe under section 409 | 2 | 2% |
| 807REFUSAL | The foreign factory, warehouse, or other establishment of which the owner, operator, or agent in charge, or… | 1 | 1% |
Vietnam spices firms with the most FDA records
Counts are FDA records in SupplierRadar's data, not a ranking of quality.
| Firm | City | FDA records |
|---|---|---|
| Nam Phong Trading Company | Ho Chi Minh City | 22 |
| Gia Minh Co., Ltd. | Ho Chi Minh | 15 |
| Viet Nam TH & D Company | Phu Ninh District | 8 |
| Hua Heong Food Industries (Vietnam) CO., Ltd | Ho Chi Minh | 5 |
| Son Ha Spice and Flavorings Co., Ltd | Dinh Bang Village | 5 |
| Asia Dong Nai Trade And Development Company Limited | Xuan Loc District | 5 |
| Thuan Thien Producing Trading Limited Company | Long An City | 4 |
| Bach Mai Agricultural Products Processing One Member Company Limited | Ho Chi Minh | 4 |
| Thong Hong Company Limited | Ho Chi Minh City | 4 |
| saka saka company limited | Ho Chi Minh | 4 |
Latest spices refusals from Vietnam
| Date | Firm | Product | Charges | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A&A Foods Company LimitedMy Hanh Commune, Vietnam | Whole spice, n.e.c | FSVP VIO | Source | |
| Thuan Thien Producing Trading Limited CompanyLong An City, Vietnam | Curry powder, without salt | SALMONELLA | Source | |
| Bon Odile Company LimitedHo Chi Minh, Vietnam | Whole spice, n.e.c | 807REFUSAL | Source | |
| Pearl CorporationHochiminh City, Vietnam | Lemon grass, ground, cracked (spice) | SALMONELLA | Source | |
| Pearl CorpHochi Minh, Vietnam | Cinnamon, cassia, ground, cracked (spice) | FILTHY | Source | |
| Bach Mai Agricultural Products Processing One Member Company LimitedHo Chi Minh, Vietnam | Salt (table salt) n.e.c | FSVP VIO | Source | |
| Bach Mai Agricultural Products Processing One Member Company LimitedHo Chi Minh, Vietnam | Salt (table salt) n.e.c | FSVP VIO | Source | |
| Bach Mai Agricultural Products Processing One Member Company LimitedHo Chi Minh, Vietnam | Mixed spice and seasonings, ground, cracked, without salt, n.e.c | FSVP VIO | Source | |
| Nam Phong Trading CompanyHo Chi Minh City, Vietnam | Lesser galangale, ground, cracked (spice) | POISONOUS | Source | |
| Elmar Trading & Production Co.Ltd.Hanoi, Vietnam | Cinnamon, cassia, whole (spice) | FILTHY | Source | |
| Elmar Trading & Production Co.Ltd.Hanoi, Vietnam | Cinnamon, cassia, ground, cracked (spice) | PB-FOOD | Source | |
| Nosafood Joint Stock CompanyHo Chi Minh, Vietnam | Mixed spices and seasoning with salt, n.e.c | NO ENGLISHNEEDS FCENO PROCESS | Source | |
| Nam Phong Trading CompanyHo Chi Minh City, Vietnam | Lesser galangale, ground, cracked (spice) | POISONOUS | Source | |
| An Tue Production Trading Service One Member Company LimitedHo Chi Minh, Vietnam | Pepper,black, whole (spice) | FILTHY | Source | |
| DK Foods CompanyCan Giuoc, Vietnam | Cinnamon, cassia, ground, cracked (spice) | PB-FOOD | Source | |
| Thuan Thien Producing Trading Limited CompanyLong An City, Vietnam | Pandanus leaf, natural extract or flavor (spice) | SALMONELLA | Source | |
| Gia Minh Co., Ltd.Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam | Pepper, black, ground, cracked (spice) | SALMONELLA | Source | |
| DK Foods CompanyCan Giuoc, Vietnam | Cinnamon, cassia, ground, cracked (spice) | POISONOUS | Source | |
| Nam Phong Trading CompanyHo Chi Minh City, Vietnam | Lesser galangale, ground, cracked (spice) | POISONOUS | Source | |
| saka saka company limitedHo Chi Minh, Vietnam | Whole spice, n.e.c | PESTICIDE | Source |
Questions about spices refusals from Vietnam
- How many spices shipments from Vietnam did FDA refuse in 2026?
- FDA refused 9 shipment lines of spices from Vietnam in 2026 through September 24, 2026, compared with 9 in 2025.
- Why does FDA refuse spices from Vietnam?
- FDA records a charge code on every refused shipment line. For spices from Vietnam the most frequent are SALMONELLA (Salmonella, 38 lines), POISONOUS (poisonous or deleterious substance, 23 lines) and FILTHY (filthy, putrid or decomposed substance, 15 lines). A charge describes what FDA's reference table says about one shipment line, not about every firm.
- Which import alerts cover spices from Vietnam?
- As of October 26, 2026, no import alert numbered under this category lists a firm in Vietnam in SupplierRadar's records. General food alerts numbered 99-xx can still list Vietnam 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.