FDA refusal charge PB-FOOD: lead
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The PB-FOOD charge appeared in 122 FDA import refusals between 2020 and 2026 — 0.6% of the 19,123 refusals that identify a hazard. The origins cited most often are China, Mexico, India. The most-affected product category is Fruit and Fruit Products. Volume in 2025 was down 55% on 2024.
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What FDA's charge says
PB-FOOD 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 a poisonous or deleterious substance, lead, which may render it injurious to health.
PB-FOOD refusals by year
| Year | Refusals | YoY | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 11 | — | |
| 2021 | 23 | +109.1% | |
| 2022 | 41 | +78.3% | |
| 2023 | 15 | -63.4% | |
| 2024 | 20 | +33.3% | |
| 2025 | 9 | -55.0% | |
| 2026 | 3 | — | YTD |
| Total | 122 |
Origins most often refused under PB-FOOD
| # | Origin country | Refusals |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | China | 20 |
| 2 | Mexico | 16 |
| 3 | India | 15 |
| 4 | Taiwan | 11 |
| 5 | Vietnam | 10 |
| 6 | Japan | 9 |
| 7 | Canada | 8 |
| 8 | Pakistan | 5 |
| 9 | Thailand | 5 |
| 10 | Afghanistan | 2 |
| 11 | Bangladesh | 2 |
| 12 | Chile | 2 |
| 13 | Hong Kong | 2 |
| 14 | United Arab Emirates | 2 |
| 15 | Brazil | 1 |
| 16 | Bulgaria | 1 |
| 17 | Cameroon | 1 |
| 18 | Egypt | 1 |
| 19 | Germany | 1 |
| 20 | Indonesia | 1 |
| 21 | Lebanon | 1 |
| 22 | Myanmar | 1 |
| 23 | Philippines | 1 |
| 24 | South Korea | 1 |
| 25 | Sri Lanka | 1 |
| 26 | Syria | 1 |
| 27 | Turkey | 1 |
Product categories refused under PB-FOOD
| # | Product category | Refusals |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fruit and Fruit Products | 54 |
| 2 | Spices, Flavors, and Salts | 24 |
| 3 | Vegetables and Vegetable Products | 16 |
| 4 | Multiple Food Dinners, Gravies, Sauces, and Specialties (Total Diet) | 9 |
| 5 | Candy Without Chocolate, Candy Specialties, and Chewing Gum | 6 |
| 6 | Vitamins, Minerals, Proteins, and Unconventional Dietary Specialties for Humans | 4 |
| 7 | Baby (Infant and Junior) Food Products | 2 |
| 8 | Snack Food Items (Flour, Meal, or Vegetable Base) | 2 |
| 9 | Bakery Products, Doughs, Bakery Mixes, and Icings | 1 |
| 10 | Coffee and Tea | 1 |
| 11 | Edible Insects and Insect-Derived Foods | 1 |
| 12 | Macaroni and Noodle Products | 1 |
| 13 | Whole Grains, Milled Grain Products, and Starch | 1 |
Latest refusals citing PB-FOOD
- CHQ-2235162-3 ORANGE (CITRUS)From China, Fruit and Fruit Products. lead
- GH5-0176962-0 CUMIN, GROUND, CRACKED (SPICE)From Mexico, Spices, Flavors, and Salts. lead
- 89G-0008037-0 GRASSHOPPERSFrom Mexico, Edible Insects and Insect-Derived Foods. lead
- 322-5309941-4 CINNAMON, CASSIA, GROUND, CRACKED (SPICE)From Sri Lanka, Spices, Flavors, and Salts. lead
- ENE-0013334-7 CINNAMON, CASSIA, WHOLE (SPICE)From Vietnam, Spices, Flavors, and Salts. filthlead
- 9AJ-0004958-8 CINNAMON, CASSIA, WHOLE (SPICE)From India, Spices, Flavors, and Salts. lead
- J50-0200115-2 CINNAMON, CASSIA, GROUND, CRACKED (SPICE)From Vietnam, Spices, Flavors, and Salts. lead
- KM6-1623514-9 HARD CANDY WITHOUT NUTS AND FRUIT, N.E.C. (WITHOUT CHOCOLATE)From Vietnam, Candy Without Chocolate, Candy Specialties, and Chewing Gum. lead
- EDR-2232120-0 MOLE PASTEFrom Mexico, Multiple Food Dinners, Gravies, Sauces, and Specialties (Total Diet). lead
- EDR-2229110-6 MOLE PASTEFrom Mexico, Multiple Food Dinners, Gravies, Sauces, and Specialties (Total Diet). lead
- THW-7106536-5 CINNAMON, CASSIA, GROUND, CRACKED (SPICE)From Indonesia, Spices, Flavors, and Salts. no manufacturer nameno net quantitylead
- EDR-2228648-6 MOLE PASTEFrom Mexico, Multiple Food Dinners, Gravies, Sauces, and Specialties (Total Diet). filthlead
- KM6-3636397-0 MANGO (SUBTROPICAL AND TROPICAL FRUIT)From Pakistan, Fruit and Fruit Products. lead
- DP4-8644098-6 CINNAMON, CASSIA, GROUND, CRACKED (SPICE)From India, Spices, Flavors, and Salts. lead
- 9XM-0065716-5 ONION BULB (YELLOW, WHITE, RED, ETC.), DRIED OR PASTEFrom India, Vegetables and Vegetable Products. lead
- HK1-2401613-8 PLUM, JAM, JELLY, PRESERVES, MARMALADE, BUTTER OR CANDIEDFrom China, Fruit and Fruit Products. lead
- 9AJ-0862016-1 CINNAMON, CASSIA, WHOLE (SPICE)From India, Spices, Flavors, and Salts. lead
- KM6-3620214-5 SPINACH (LEAF & STEM VEGETABLE)From India, Vegetables and Vegetable Products. pesticide residuelead
- SQ4-0520226-9 CINNAMON, CASSIA, GROUND, CRACKED (SPICE)From Vietnam, Spices, Flavors, and Salts. lead
- K09-0092515-5 SOFT CANDY WITHOUT NUTS AND FRUIT, N.E.C. (WITHOUT CHOCOLATE)From United Arab Emirates, Candy Without Chocolate, Candy Specialties, and Chewing Gum. lead
About PB-FOOD
What does the FDA import refusal charge PB-FOOD mean?
FDA uses PB-FOOD for: lead. 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 a poisonous or deleterious substance, lead, which may render it injurious to health.”
Is PB-FOOD a food safety finding?
Yes. This site counts PB-FOOD 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 PB-FOOD?
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.