FDA refusal charge POISONORD: poisonous substance
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The POISONORD charge appeared in 267 FDA import refusals between 2020 and 2026 — 1.4% of the 19,123 refusals that identify a hazard. The origins cited most often are India, Thailand, Vietnam. The most-affected product category is Nuts and Edible Seeds. Volume in 2025 was down 28% on 2024.
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What FDA's charge says
POISONORD 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 which would ordinarily render the article injurious to health. Contains:
POISONORD refusals by year
| Year | Refusals | YoY | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 14 | — | |
| 2021 | 11 | -21.4% | |
| 2022 | 4 | -63.6% | |
| 2023 | 48 | +1100.0% | |
| 2024 | 74 | +54.2% | |
| 2025 | 53 | -28.4% | |
| 2026 | 63 | — | YTD |
| Total | 267 |
Origins most often refused under POISONORD
| # | Origin country | Refusals |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | India | 112 |
| 2 | Thailand | 49 |
| 3 | Vietnam | 21 |
| 4 | Bangladesh | 14 |
| 5 | Myanmar | 11 |
| 6 | United Kingdom | 8 |
| 7 | Mozambique | 7 |
| 8 | China | 6 |
| 9 | South Korea | 6 |
| 10 | Ecuador | 5 |
| 11 | Senegal | 5 |
| 12 | Indonesia | 4 |
| 13 | Pakistan | 3 |
| 14 | Taiwan | 3 |
| 15 | Cambodia | 1 |
| 16 | Canada | 1 |
| 17 | Colombia | 1 |
| 18 | Costa Rica | 1 |
| 19 | Czech Republic | 1 |
| 20 | Guatemala | 1 |
| 21 | Japan | 1 |
| 22 | Mexico | 1 |
| 23 | Nepal | 1 |
| 24 | Netherlands | 1 |
| 25 | Philippines | 1 |
| 26 | Turkey | 1 |
| 27 | United States | 1 |
Product categories refused under POISONORD
| # | Product category | Refusals |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nuts and Edible Seeds | 181 |
| 2 | Fishery/Seafood Products | 28 |
| 3 | Fruit and Fruit Products | 28 |
| 4 | Vegetables and Vegetable Products | 7 |
| 5 | Vitamins, Minerals, Proteins, and Unconventional Dietary Specialties for Humans | 7 |
| 6 | Whole Grains, Milled Grain Products, and Starch | 3 |
| 7 | Bakery Products, Doughs, Bakery Mixes, and Icings | 2 |
| 8 | Candy Without Chocolate, Candy Specialties, and Chewing Gum | 2 |
| 9 | Chocolate and Cocoa Products | 2 |
| 10 | Macaroni and Noodle Products | 2 |
| 11 | Spices, Flavors, and Salts | 2 |
| 12 | Food Sweeteners (Nutritive) | 1 |
| 13 | Milk, Butter, and Dried Milk Products | 1 |
| 14 | Soft Drinks and Waters | 1 |
Latest refusals citing POISONORD
- KM6-3686052-0 BETEL NUT, SHELLEDFrom India, Nuts and Edible Seeds. unsafe food additivepoisonous substanceunapproved new drug
- DP4-8687034-9 BETEL NUT, IN SHELLFrom India, Nuts and Edible Seeds. filthSalmonellaunsafe food additivepoisonous substance
- AEK-2006171-8 BETEL NUT (HERBAL AND BOTANICALS, NOT TEAS II)From Thailand, Vitamins, Minerals, Proteins, and Unconventional Dietary Specialties for Humans. poisonous substance
- 1FX-4275981-2 PALM NUT ARECA, ARECA NUT OR BETEL NUT, SUBTROPICAL AND TROPICAL FRUIT, TOPPINGS OR SYRUPSFrom India, Fruit and Fruit Products. poisonous substance
- AEK-9677623-0 PALM NUT ARECA, ARECA NUT OR BETEL NUT, SUBTROPICAL AND TROPICAL FRUIT, DRIED OR PASTEFrom Thailand, Fruit and Fruit Products. poisonous substance
- AEK-9612223-7 PALM NUT ARECA, ARECA NUT OR BETEL NUT, SUBTROPICAL AND TROPICAL FRUIT, DRIED OR PASTEFrom Thailand, Fruit and Fruit Products. poisonous substance
- 1FX-3841210-3 BETEL NUT, SHELLEDFrom India, Nuts and Edible Seeds. poisonous substance
- 1FX-3974927-1 PALM NUT ARECA, ARECA NUT OR BETEL NUT, SUBTROPICAL AND TROPICAL FRUITFrom India, Fruit and Fruit Products. poisonous or deleterious substancepoisonous substance
- AEK-9704129-5 PALM NUT ARECA, ARECA NUT OR BETEL NUT, SUBTROPICAL AND TROPICAL FRUITFrom India, Fruit and Fruit Products. poisonous substance
- AEK-9797863-7 PALM NUT ARECA, ARECA NUT OR BETEL NUT, SUBTROPICAL AND TROPICAL FRUITFrom India, Fruit and Fruit Products. poisonous substance
- SCS-7584360-4 BETEL NUT, SHELLEDFrom United Kingdom, Nuts and Edible Seeds. poisonous substance
- 1FX-3383316-1 PALM NUT ARECA, ARECA NUT OR BETEL NUT, SUBTROPICAL AND TROPICAL FRUITFrom India, Fruit and Fruit Products. poisonous substance
- H67-1721368-9 BETEL NUT, IN SHELLFrom India, Nuts and Edible Seeds. poisonous substance
- 9GX-0257348-2 BETEL NUT, SHELLEDFrom India, Nuts and Edible Seeds. unsafe food additiveunsafe dietary usepoisonous substance
- AEK-0813164-0 PALM NUT ARECA, ARECA NUT OR BETEL NUT, SUBTROPICAL AND TROPICAL FRUITFrom Thailand, Fruit and Fruit Products. poisonous substance
- AEK-9607166-5 BETEL NUT, SHELLEDFrom Thailand, Nuts and Edible Seeds. poisonous substance
- AEK-0953824-9 BETEL NUT, IN SHELLFrom Thailand, Nuts and Edible Seeds. poisonous substance
- AEK-0899871-7 BETEL NUT (HERBAL AND BOTANICAL TEAS II, CONTINUED)From Thailand, Vitamins, Minerals, Proteins, and Unconventional Dietary Specialties for Humans. poisonous substance
- SCS-0438204-8 PALM NUT ARECA, ARECA NUT OR BETEL NUT, SUBTROPICAL AND TROPICAL FRUITFrom Thailand, Fruit and Fruit Products. poisonous substance
- 1FX-1478262-6 PALM NUT ARECA, ARECA NUT OR BETEL NUT, SUBTROPICAL AND TROPICAL FRUIT, DRIED OR PASTEFrom Thailand, Fruit and Fruit Products. poisonous substance
About POISONORD
What does the FDA import refusal charge POISONORD mean?
FDA uses POISONORD for: poisonous substance. 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 which would ordinarily render the article injurious to health. Contains:”
Is POISONORD a food safety finding?
Yes. This site counts POISONORD 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 POISONORD?
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.