FDA refusal charge LISTERIA: Listeria monocytogenes
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The LISTERIA charge appeared in 475 FDA import refusals between 2020 and 2026 — 2.5% of the 19,123 refusals that identify a hazard. The origins cited most often are China, South Korea, Malaysia. The most-affected product category is Vegetables and Vegetable Products. Volume in 2025 was up 129% on 2024.
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What FDA's charge says
LISTERIA 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 article appears to contain Listeria monocytogenes, a poisonous and deleterious substance, which may render it injurious to health.
LISTERIA refusals by year
| Year | Refusals | YoY | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 36 | — | |
| 2021 | 51 | +41.7% | |
| 2022 | 79 | +54.9% | |
| 2023 | 50 | -36.7% | |
| 2024 | 56 | +12.0% | |
| 2025 | 128 | +128.6% | |
| 2026 | 75 | — | YTD |
| Total | 475 |
Origins most often refused under LISTERIA
| # | Origin country | Refusals |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | China | 137 |
| 2 | South Korea | 88 |
| 3 | Malaysia | 51 |
| 4 | Greece | 36 |
| 5 | France | 27 |
| 6 | Netherlands | 21 |
| 7 | Poland | 18 |
| 8 | Taiwan | 17 |
| 9 | Japan | 16 |
| 10 | Mexico | 12 |
| 11 | Chile | 11 |
| 12 | Italy | 8 |
| 13 | Vietnam | 6 |
| 14 | Canada | 5 |
| 15 | Ecuador | 4 |
| 16 | Ireland | 4 |
| 17 | Portugal | 4 |
| 18 | Indonesia | 2 |
| 19 | Russia | 2 |
| 20 | Germany | 1 |
| 21 | India | 1 |
| 22 | Lithuania | 1 |
| 23 | Norway | 1 |
| 24 | Switzerland | 1 |
| 25 | United States | 1 |
Product categories refused under LISTERIA
| # | Product category | Refusals |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vegetables and Vegetable Products | 241 |
| 2 | Fishery/Seafood Products | 169 |
| 3 | Cheese and Cheese Products | 51 |
| 4 | Fruit and Fruit Products | 7 |
| 5 | Bakery Products, Doughs, Bakery Mixes, and Icings | 3 |
| 6 | Nuts and Edible Seeds | 2 |
| 7 | Candy Without Chocolate, Candy Specialties, and Chewing Gum | 1 |
| 8 | Spices, Flavors, and Salts | 1 |
Latest refusals citing LISTERIA
- ARE-1091358-5 CHEESE, SEMISOFTFrom Portugal, Cheese and Cheese Products. Listeria monocytogenes
- EKH-1016401-3 ENOKITAKE MUSHROOMS, WHOLE (BUTTON) (FUNGI)From China, Vegetables and Vegetable Products. Listeria monocytogenes
- AWJ-0327676-8 ENOKITAKE MUSHROOMS, WHOLE (BUTTON) (FUNGI)From China, Vegetables and Vegetable Products. Listeria monocytogenes
- 1FX-6593439-0 CHEESE, GOAT, N.E.C.From France, Cheese and Cheese Products. Listeria monocytogenes
- 04Y-1186935-5 ENOKITAKE MUSHROOMS, WHOLE (BUTTON) (FUNGI)From China, Vegetables and Vegetable Products. Listeria monocytogenes
- DU7-0144250-9 ENOKITAKE MUSHROOMS, WHOLE (BUTTON) (FUNGI)From China, Vegetables and Vegetable Products. Listeria monocytogenes
- 04Y-1186911-6 ENOKITAKE MUSHROOMS, WHOLE (BUTTON) (FUNGI)From China, Vegetables and Vegetable Products. Listeria monocytogenes
- 04Y-1186954-6 ENOKITAKE MUSHROOMS, WHOLE (BUTTON) (FUNGI)From China, Vegetables and Vegetable Products. Listeria monocytogenes
- EKH-1027729-4 TSO GU (DRIED CHINESE GRASS MUSHROOMS, HAVE STRONGER FRAGRANCE THAN CHINESE DRIED MUSHROOMS)From China, Vegetables and Vegetable Products. Listeria monocytogenes
- 04Y-1186900-9 ENOKITAKE MUSHROOMS, WHOLE (BUTTON) (FUNGI)From China, Vegetables and Vegetable Products. Listeria monocytogenes
- DU7-0144527-0 ENOKITAKE MUSHROOMS, WHOLE (BUTTON) (FUNGI)From China, Vegetables and Vegetable Products. Listeria monocytogenes
- DU7-0144475-2 ENOKITAKE MUSHROOMS, WHOLE (BUTTON) (FUNGI)From China, Vegetables and Vegetable Products. Listeria monocytogenes
- DU7-0143831-7 ENOKITAKEFrom China, Vegetables and Vegetable Products. Listeria monocytogenes
- DU7-0143256-7 FUNGUS, WHITE, WHOLE (BUTTON) (FUNGI)From China, Vegetables and Vegetable Products. Listeria monocytogenes
- E84-0126812-1 FRUITS USED AS VEGETABLES, N.E.C.From Poland, Vegetables and Vegetable Products. Listeria monocytogenes
- HE8-0213283-8 ENOKITAKE MUSHROOMS, WHOLE (BUTTON) (FUNGI)From South Korea, Vegetables and Vegetable Products. Listeria monocytogenes
- HE8-0213214-3 ENOKITAKE MUSHROOMS, WHOLE (BUTTON) (FUNGI)From South Korea, Vegetables and Vegetable Products. Listeria monocytogenes
- HE8-0213327-3 ENOKITAKE MUSHROOMS, WHOLE (BUTTON) (FUNGI)From South Korea, Vegetables and Vegetable Products. poisonous or deleterious substanceListeria monocytogenes
- DU7-0143782-2 ENOKITAKEFrom China, Vegetables and Vegetable Products. Listeria monocytogenes
- EKH-1030048-4 TSO GU (DRIED CHINESE GRASS MUSHROOMS, HAVE STRONGER FRAGRANCE THAN CHINESE DRIED MUSHROOMS)From China, Vegetables and Vegetable Products. Listeria monocytogenes
About LISTERIA
What does the FDA import refusal charge LISTERIA mean?
FDA uses LISTERIA for: Listeria monocytogenes. Its published charge language reads: “The article is subject to refusal of admission pursuant to Section 801(a)(3), in that the article appears to contain Listeria monocytogenes, a poisonous and deleterious substance, which may render it injurious to health.”
Is LISTERIA a food safety finding?
Yes. This site counts LISTERIA 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 LISTERIA?
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.