FDA refusal charge SALMONELLA: Salmonella
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The SALMONELLA charge appeared in 2,387 FDA import refusals between 2020 and 2026 — 12.5% of the 19,123 refusals that identify a hazard. The origins cited most often are India, Mexico, Vietnam. The most-affected product category is Fishery/Seafood Products. Volume in 2025 was up 20% on 2024.
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What FDA's charge says
SALMONELLA 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 Salmonella, a poisonous and deleterious substance which may render it injurious to health.
SALMONELLA refusals by year
| Year | Refusals | YoY | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 298 | — | |
| 2021 | 386 | +29.5% | |
| 2022 | 337 | -12.7% | |
| 2023 | 289 | -14.2% | |
| 2024 | 362 | +25.3% | |
| 2025 | 434 | +19.9% | |
| 2026 | 281 | — | YTD |
| Total | 2,387 |
Origins most often refused under SALMONELLA
| # | Origin country | Refusals |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | India | 836 |
| 2 | Mexico | 198 |
| 3 | Vietnam | 191 |
| 4 | Indonesia | 123 |
| 5 | Thailand | 90 |
| 6 | Bangladesh | 84 |
| 7 | Turkey | 72 |
| 8 | Jordan | 66 |
| 9 | China | 50 |
| 10 | Myanmar | 49 |
| 11 | Nigeria | 39 |
| 12 | Lebanon | 36 |
| 13 | Pakistan | 35 |
| 14 | Canada | 33 |
| 15 | Brazil | 31 |
| 16 | Philippines | 31 |
| 17 | Ghana | 28 |
| 18 | Taiwan | 25 |
| 19 | United Arab Emirates | 24 |
| 20 | Syria | 23 |
| 21 | Ecuador | 21 |
| 22 | Israel | 21 |
| 23 | Egypt | 20 |
| 24 | Guatemala | 19 |
| 25 | Jamaica | 19 |
| 26 | Kenya | 17 |
| 27 | Paraguay | 17 |
| 28 | Fiji | 13 |
| 29 | Spain | 13 |
| 30 | Bolivia | 12 |
Product categories refused under SALMONELLA
| # | Product category | Refusals |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fishery/Seafood Products | 698 |
| 2 | Spices, Flavors, and Salts | 581 |
| 3 | Nuts and Edible Seeds | 354 |
| 4 | Fruit and Fruit Products | 173 |
| 5 | Vegetables and Vegetable Products | 171 |
| 6 | Snack Food Items (Flour, Meal, or Vegetable Base) | 164 |
| 7 | Candy Without Chocolate, Candy Specialties, and Chewing Gum | 50 |
| 8 | Vitamins, Minerals, Proteins, and Unconventional Dietary Specialties for Humans | 42 |
| 9 | Bakery Products, Doughs, Bakery Mixes, and Icings | 36 |
| 10 | Multiple Food Dinners, Gravies, Sauces, and Specialties (Total Diet) | 31 |
| 11 | Whole Grains, Milled Grain Products, and Starch | 19 |
| 12 | Coffee and Tea | 15 |
| 13 | Meat, Meat Products, and Poultry | 13 |
| 14 | Macaroni and Noodle Products | 9 |
| 15 | Chocolate and Cocoa Products | 7 |
Latest refusals citing SALMONELLA
- KM6-3684693-3 TAMARIND, JAM, JELLY, PRESERVES, MARMALADE, BUTTER OR CANDIEDFrom India, Fruit and Fruit Products. Salmonellafilth
- B6V-0284901-6 PEPPER, BLACK, GROUND, CRACKED (SPICE)From Brazil, Spices, Flavors, and Salts. Salmonella
- KM6-3684852-5 FISH, N.E.C.From Vietnam, Fishery/Seafood Products. Salmonella
- KM6-3685157-8 PEPPER,BLACK, WHOLE (SPICE)From India, Spices, Flavors, and Salts. filthSalmonella
- 82S-0005221-3 TURMERIC, GROUND, CRACKED (SPICE)From India, Spices, Flavors, and Salts. Salmonella
- SCS-7191918-5 PEPPER,BLACK, WHOLE (SPICE)From India, Spices, Flavors, and Salts. filthSalmonella
- BNI-0150588-0 MELON SEEDS (EDIBLE SEED)From Ghana, Nuts and Edible Seeds. Salmonella
- MH7-2120737-0 ANIMAL BY-PRODUCTS AND EXTRACTS, N.E.C.From Indonesia, Vitamins, Minerals, Proteins, and Unconventional Dietary Specialties for Humans. not in EnglishlabelingSalmonella
- DP4-8687034-9 BETEL NUT, IN SHELLFrom India, Nuts and Edible Seeds. filthSalmonellaunsafe food additivepoisonous substance
- AQZ-0642768-9 SHRIMP AND PRAWNS, AQUACULTURE HARVESTED FISHERY/SEAFOOD PRODUCTSFrom Indonesia, Fishery/Seafood Products. filthSalmonella
- AVV-4672301-7 MORINGA OLEIFERA (HERBAL AND BOTANICAL TEAS II, (CONTINUED)From India, Vitamins, Minerals, Proteins, and Unconventional Dietary Specialties for Humans. Salmonella
- KM6-3682195-1 SHRIMP AND PRAWNS, AQUACULTURE HARVESTED FISHERY/SEAFOOD PRODUCTSFrom India, Fishery/Seafood Products. filthSalmonella
- B7S-2605071-7 MUSSELSFrom South Korea, Fishery/Seafood Products. filthSalmonella
- KM6-3682524-2 CAPSICUMS (CAYENNE CHILI, HOT PEPPERS), GROUND, CRACKED (SPICE)From United Arab Emirates, Spices, Flavors, and Salts. insanitary plantinsanitary handlingSalmonella
- 8NP-0813263-5 SCADFrom Vietnam, Fishery/Seafood Products. HACCP failureinsanitary conditionsSalmonella
- 788-1931281-6 MORINGA OLEIFERA (HERBAL AND BOTANICAL (NOT TEAS II) CONTDFrom India, Vitamins, Minerals, Proteins, and Unconventional Dietary Specialties for Humans. Salmonella
- AEK-0660204-8 MORINGA OLEIFERA (HERBAL AND BOTANICAL (NOT TEAS II) CONTDFrom India, Vitamins, Minerals, Proteins, and Unconventional Dietary Specialties for Humans. Salmonella
- DZ1-1187947-1 LEAF & STEM VEGETABLES, N.E.C.From Vietnam, Vegetables and Vegetable Products. Salmonella
- KM6-3682505-1 SPICES AND SEASONING, GROUND, CRACKED, WITH SALT, N.E.C.From India, Spices, Flavors, and Salts. Salmonella
- AQZ-0640243-5 SHRIMP AND PRAWNS, AQUACULTURE HARVESTED FISHERY/SEAFOOD PRODUCTSFrom Ecuador, Fishery/Seafood Products. Salmonella
About SALMONELLA
What does the FDA import refusal charge SALMONELLA mean?
FDA uses SALMONELLA for: Salmonella. 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 Salmonella, a poisonous and deleterious substance which may render it injurious to health.”
Is SALMONELLA a food safety finding?
Yes. This site counts SALMONELLA 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 SALMONELLA?
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.