Last refresh: . 26,358 refusals since 2020-01-01.

FDA refusal charge ADDED BULK: bulking agent added

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The ADDED BULK charge appeared in 51 FDA import refusals between 2023 and 2026 — 0.3% of the 19,123 refusals that identify a hazard. The origins cited most often are Indonesia, Vietnam, Taiwan. The most-affected product category is Fishery/Seafood Products. Volume in 2025 was down 14% on 2024.

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What FDA's charge says

ADDED BULK is the code FDA prints on a refusal; below is the charge language FDA publishes for it, quoted from its charge table, with the sections of the FD&C Act it cites.

The article is subject to refusal of admission pursuant to Section 801(a)(3) in that the food appears to have a substance added to, mixed or packed with it so as to increase its bulk or weight, or reduce its quality or strength, or make it appear better or of greater value than it is.

Sections 402(b)(4), 801(a)(3); ADULTERATION

ADDED BULK refusals by year

YearRefusalsYoY
20235—
202422+340.0%
202519-13.6%
20265—YTD
Total51

Origins most often refused under ADDED BULK

#Origin countryRefusals
1Indonesia24
2Vietnam6
3Taiwan5
4China4
5India4
6Canada3
7Italy3
8Japan1
9South Korea1

Product categories refused under ADDED BULK

#Product categoryRefusals
1Fishery/Seafood Products40
2Fruit and Fruit Products9
3Food Sweeteners (Nutritive)2

Latest refusals citing ADDED BULK

About ADDED BULK

What does the FDA import refusal charge ADDED BULK mean?

FDA uses ADDED BULK for: bulking agent added. Its published charge language reads: “The article is subject to refusal of admission pursuant to Section 801(a)(3) in that the food appears to have a substance added to, mixed or packed with it so as to increase its bulk or weight, or reduce its quality or strength, or make it appear better or of greater value than it is.”

Is ADDED BULK a food safety finding?

Yes. This site counts ADDED BULK as a hazard finding, so a refusal citing it is on the hazard side of the hazard and paperwork split, whatever else the refusal cites.

What happens to a shipment refused under ADDED BULK?

Under section 801(a) of the FD&C Act a refused entry has to be exported or destroyed, normally within 90 days of the notice of refusal. Bringing a product into compliance, for instance by relabelling, is something the importer asks FDA for before the decision is final. The notice itself and FDA's guidance govern a particular case; this page describes the published data and is not legal advice.