FDA refusal charge FLAVR LBLG: flavor not declared
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The FLAVR LBLG charge appeared in 54 FDA import refusals between 2020 and 2026 — 0.2% of all 26,358 US import refusals. The charge is a labelling or registration failure, not a hazard found in the product. The origins cited most often are China, Mexico, India. The most-affected product category is Bakery Products, Doughs, Bakery Mixes, and Icings. Volume in 2025 was up 138% on 2024.
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What FDA's charge says
FLAVR LBLG 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 it appears to contain an artificial flavoring and it fails to bear labeling stating that fact.
FLAVR LBLG refusals by year
| Year | Refusals | YoY | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 3 | — | |
| 2021 | 4 | +33.3% | |
| 2022 | 8 | +100.0% | |
| 2023 | 6 | -25.0% | |
| 2024 | 8 | +33.3% | |
| 2025 | 19 | +137.5% | |
| 2026 | 6 | — | YTD |
| Total | 54 |
Origins most often refused under FLAVR LBLG
| # | Origin country | Refusals |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | China | 17 |
| 2 | Mexico | 8 |
| 3 | India | 4 |
| 4 | Guatemala | 3 |
| 5 | Spain | 3 |
| 6 | Malaysia | 2 |
| 7 | Russia | 2 |
| 8 | Sweden | 2 |
| 9 | Thailand | 2 |
| 10 | Turkey | 2 |
| 11 | Vietnam | 2 |
| 12 | Canada | 1 |
| 13 | Guyana | 1 |
| 14 | Lithuania | 1 |
| 15 | Nigeria | 1 |
| 16 | Philippines | 1 |
| 17 | South Korea | 1 |
| 18 | Taiwan | 1 |
Product categories refused under FLAVR LBLG
| # | Product category | Refusals |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bakery Products, Doughs, Bakery Mixes, and Icings | 11 |
| 2 | Snack Food Items (Flour, Meal, or Vegetable Base) | 9 |
| 3 | Candy Without Chocolate, Candy Specialties, and Chewing Gum | 7 |
| 4 | Fruit and Fruit Products | 7 |
| 5 | Soft Drinks and Waters | 5 |
| 6 | Alcoholic Beverages | 2 |
| 7 | Dietary Conventional Foods and Meal Replacements | 2 |
| 8 | Multiple Food Dinners, Gravies, Sauces, and Specialties (Total Diet) | 2 |
| 9 | Beverage Bases | 1 |
| 10 | Dressings and Condiments | 1 |
| 11 | Fishery/Seafood Products | 1 |
| 12 | Food Sweeteners (Nutritive) | 1 |
| 13 | Macaroni and Noodle Products | 1 |
| 14 | Milk, Butter, and Dried Milk Products | 1 |
| 15 | Spices, Flavors, and Salts | 1 |
Latest refusals citing FLAVR LBLG
- N56-0051180-6 HAKE, HOT SMOKED, FISHFrom Nigeria, Fishery/Seafood Products. flavor not declaredno common namelabelingnutrition labeling+6 more
- TXC-7507889-8 CANDY WITHOUT CHOCOLATE N.E.C.From Sweden, Candy Without Chocolate, Candy Specialties, and Chewing Gum. unsafe color additiveingredients not listedno common namenutrition labeling+5 more
- NDA-0008205-3 CANDY SPECIALTIES, N.E.C. (WITHOUT CHOCOLATE)From Mexico, Candy Without Chocolate, Candy Specialties, and Chewing Gum. unsafe color additiveflavor not declaredcolor not declarednot in English+2 more
- M42-1344471-2 FRUIT/FRUIT FLAVORED PREPARED DRY COOKIE MIX WITHOUT MILK OR EGGFrom China, Bakery Products, Doughs, Bakery Mixes, and Icings. color not declaredunsafe color additiveflavor not declaredmelamine
- AWJ-0298406-5 ZWEIBACK, TOASTFrom China, Bakery Products, Doughs, Bakery Mixes, and Icings. melamineflavor not declared
- 8A3-0047555-5 TOPPINGS WITHOUT FRUIT, NUTS OR CHOCOLATE N.E.C.From Sweden, Candy Without Chocolate, Candy Specialties, and Chewing Gum. unsafe color additivecolor not declaredflavor not declaredno net quantity+1 more
- 86V-3526741-2 MACAROON,PREPARED DRY COOKIE, BISCUITS AND WAFER MIXES WITH MILK OR EGGSFrom Turkey, Bakery Products, Doughs, Bakery Mixes, and Icings. no net quantitynot in Englishnutrition labelingundeclared allergen+3 more
- 390-5336850-0 WINE, SPARKLING (NATURALLY CARBONATED)From Spain, Alcoholic Beverages. ingredients not listedflavor not declarednutrition labeling
- 390-5375140-8 WINE, SPARKLING (NATURALLY CARBONATED)From Spain, Alcoholic Beverages. ingredients not listedflavor not declarednutrition labeling
- 8RG-2467622-9 MIXED PLAIN COOKIES,BISCUITS AND WAFERSFrom Malaysia, Bakery Products, Doughs, Bakery Mixes, and Icings. ingredients not listedflavor not declaredcolor not declaredno net quantity+2 more
- 9NX-0006537-8 CANDY WITHOUT CHOCOLATE N.E.C.From South Korea, Candy Without Chocolate, Candy Specialties, and Chewing Gum. ingredients not listedflavor not declaredcolor not declarednot in English+2 more
- EVR-0166381-9 BEVERAGE BASE OF NON-FRUIT ORIGIN, LIQUID, N.E.C.From China, Beverage Bases. melamineunsafe color additiveingredients not listedflavor not declared+5 more
- 349-2068981-6 CAKE WITHOUT CUSTARD OR CREAM FILLINGFrom China, Bakery Products, Doughs, Bakery Mixes, and Icings. ingredients not listedno manufacturer namenot in Englishundeclared allergen+4 more
- NDA-0005179-3 CORN CHIPS, FRIEDFrom Mexico, Snack Food Items (Flour, Meal, or Vegetable Base). unsafe color additivelabel not conspicuousflavor not declaredcolor not declared+2 more
- 349-2070487-0 CARBONATED SOFT DRINK, N.E.C.From China, Soft Drinks and Waters. melamineno process filingingredients not listedflavor not declared+6 more
- 349-2070442-5 CAKE WITHOUT CUSTARD OR CREAM FILLINGFrom China, Bakery Products, Doughs, Bakery Mixes, and Icings. ingredients not listedflavor not declaredpreservative not declaredno net quantity+5 more
- BQL-0107707-0 BREAD STICKS (FLAVORED OR UNFLAVORED), BAKEDFrom Russia, Snack Food Items (Flour, Meal, or Vegetable Base). unsafe food additiveingredients not listedlabel not conspicuousflavor not declared+1 more
- 9EX-2502087-9 CAKE WITHOUT CUSTARD OR CREAM FILLINGFrom Malaysia, Bakery Products, Doughs, Bakery Mixes, and Icings. flavor not declaredcolor not declaredno net quantitynot in English+3 more
- 9NK-0027080-9 BISCUITSFrom China, Bakery Products, Doughs, Bakery Mixes, and Icings. ingredients not listedcolor not declaredflavor not declaredundeclared allergen+6 more
- 8BL-0027282-8 SYRUPS AND MOLASSES, N.E.C.From China, Food Sweeteners (Nutritive). unsafe color additiveflavor not declaredno net quantityjuice percentage not declared+1 more
About FLAVR LBLG
What does the FDA import refusal charge FLAVR LBLG mean?
FDA uses FLAVR LBLG for: flavor not declared. Its published charge language reads: “The article is subject to refusal of admission pursuant to Section 801(a)(3) in that it appears to contain an artificial flavoring and it fails to bear labeling stating that fact.”
Is FLAVR LBLG a food safety finding?
No. FLAVR LBLG is a labelling or registration failure: the charge is about the label, the filing or the paperwork, not a hazard found in the product. A refusal citing it alone is counted as paperwork on this site.
What happens to a shipment refused under FLAVR LBLG?
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.