FDA refusal charge SULFITELBL: sulfites not declared
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The SULFITELBL charge appeared in 107 FDA import refusals between 2020 and 2026 — 0.4% 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 Indonesia, India, Afghanistan. The most-affected product category is Fishery/Seafood Products. Volume in 2025 was up 538% on 2024.
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What FDA's charge says
SULFITELBL 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 be misbranded because 1) it appears to contain sulfites but the label fails to declare the presence of sulfites, a fact material to sulfite-sensitive individuals who must avoid the ingredient due to potential health consequences from its consumption, and 2) it appears the food is fabricated from two or more ingredients and the label does not list the common or usual name of each ingredient.
SULFITELBL refusals by year
| Year | Refusals | YoY | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 18 | — | |
| 2021 | 7 | -61.1% | |
| 2022 | 11 | +57.1% | |
| 2023 | 5 | -54.5% | |
| 2024 | 8 | +60.0% | |
| 2025 | 51 | +537.5% | |
| 2026 | 7 | — | YTD |
| Total | 107 |
Origins most often refused under SULFITELBL
| # | Origin country | Refusals |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Indonesia | 30 |
| 2 | India | 16 |
| 3 | Afghanistan | 8 |
| 4 | China | 8 |
| 5 | Hong Kong | 6 |
| 6 | Mexico | 5 |
| 7 | Thailand | 5 |
| 8 | Canada | 4 |
| 9 | Japan | 4 |
| 10 | Vietnam | 3 |
| 11 | Algeria | 2 |
| 12 | Lebanon | 2 |
| 13 | Pakistan | 2 |
| 14 | South Korea | 2 |
| 15 | Turkey | 2 |
| 16 | Bangladesh | 1 |
| 17 | Cyprus | 1 |
| 18 | Iraq | 1 |
| 19 | Norway | 1 |
| 20 | Peru | 1 |
| 21 | Philippines | 1 |
| 22 | Russia | 1 |
| 23 | Taiwan | 1 |
Product categories refused under SULFITELBL
| # | Product category | Refusals |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fishery/Seafood Products | 32 |
| 2 | Fruit and Fruit Products | 30 |
| 3 | Vegetables and Vegetable Products | 17 |
| 4 | Spices, Flavors, and Salts | 8 |
| 5 | Bakery Products, Doughs, Bakery Mixes, and Icings | 3 |
| 6 | Nuts and Edible Seeds | 3 |
| 7 | Candy Without Chocolate, Candy Specialties, and Chewing Gum | 2 |
| 8 | Vitamins, Minerals, Proteins, and Unconventional Dietary Specialties for Humans | 2 |
| 9 | Chocolate and Cocoa Products | 1 |
| 10 | Dressings and Condiments | 1 |
| 11 | Egg and Egg Products | 1 |
| 12 | Filled Milk and Imitation Milk Products | 1 |
| 13 | Food Sweeteners (Nutritive) | 1 |
| 14 | Miscellaneous Food Related Items | 1 |
| 15 | Multiple Food Dinners, Gravies, Sauces, and Specialties (Total Diet) | 1 |
Latest refusals citing SULFITELBL
- KM6-3683555-5 MIXED SPICE AND SEAONINGS, WITHOUT SALT, N.E.C.From India, Spices, Flavors, and Salts. unsafe color additivesulfites not declaredunsafe food additivecolor not declared+2 more
- KM6-3680992-3 MUSTARD, PREPAREDFrom India, Dressings and Condiments. sulfites not declared
- 158-2605320-7 APRICOT, DRIED OR PASTEFrom Afghanistan, Fruit and Fruit Products. sulfites not declared
- D77-3001841-4 YAMS, DRIED OR PASTE (ROOT & TUBER VEGETABLE)From Hong Kong, Vegetables and Vegetable Products. sulfites not declared
- U47-2602621-2 PERSIMMON, DRIED OR PASTEFrom South Korea, Fruit and Fruit Products. sulfites not declaredpesticide residue
- EU9-8601185-3 PASTES, N.E.C.From Canada, Multiple Food Dinners, Gravies, Sauces, and Specialties (Total Diet). sulfites not declaredno common name
- 417-0407405-7 LONGBEANSFrom Taiwan, Vegetables and Vegetable Products. sulfites not declaredpesticide residue
- D77-3001240-9 HERBALS & BOTANICALS (NOT TEAS), N.E.C.From Hong Kong, Vitamins, Minerals, Proteins, and Unconventional Dietary Specialties for Humans. sulfites not declared
- D77-3001330-8 OTHER FRUITS, MIXED, DRIED OR PASTEFrom Hong Kong, Fruit and Fruit Products. sulfites not declared
- KM6-3660523-0 MIXED SPICE AND SEAONINGS, WITHOUT SALT, N.E.C.From India, Spices, Flavors, and Salts. label not conspicuousunsafe color additivecolor not declaredsulfites not declared
- 8L5-0002814-3 RAISINS (DRIED GRAPES) (BERRY)From Afghanistan, Fruit and Fruit Products. pesticide residuesulfites not declared
- KM6-3659079-6 BANANA SNACKS, FRUIT SNACK FOODS, FRIED/OIL COOKEDFrom India, Snack Food Items (Flour, Meal, or Vegetable Base). sulfites not declared
- E6G-0629796-9 APRICOT, DRIED OR PASTEFrom Pakistan, Fruit and Fruit Products. sulfites not declared
- D77-3001111-2 HERBALS & BOTANICALS (NOT TEAS), N.E.C.From Hong Kong, Vitamins, Minerals, Proteins, and Unconventional Dietary Specialties for Humans. sulfites not declared
- AEK-7378891-9 SHRIMP & PRAWNS, CAKES, BALLS, ETC.From Norway, Fishery/Seafood Products. sulfites not declared
- 8L5-0002796-2 CANDY SPECIALTIES, N.E.C. (WITHOUT CHOCOLATE)From India, Candy Without Chocolate, Candy Specialties, and Chewing Gum. sulfites not declaredingredients not listednot in Englishundeclared allergen
- 158-2502897-8 APRICOT, DRIED OR PASTEFrom Afghanistan, Fruit and Fruit Products. sulfites not declared
- 082-0460988-0 SHRIMP AND PRAWNS, AQUACULTURE HARVESTED FISHERY/SEAFOOD PRODUCTSFrom Indonesia, Fishery/Seafood Products. sulfites not declared
- 8TH-0035314-2 SHRIMP AND PRAWNS, AQUACULTURE HARVESTED FISHERY/SEAFOOD PRODUCTSFrom Indonesia, Fishery/Seafood Products. sulfites not declareddamage concealedno net quantity
- DP4-8662909-1 APRICOT, DRIED OR PASTEFrom Lebanon, Fruit and Fruit Products. sulfites not declaredfilthno manufacturer nameno net quantity+1 more
About SULFITELBL
What does the FDA import refusal charge SULFITELBL mean?
FDA uses SULFITELBL for: sulfites 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 be misbranded because 1) it appears to contain sulfites but the label fails to declare the presence of sulfites, a fact material to sulfite-sensitive individuals who must avoid the ingredient due to potential health consequences from its consumption, and 2) it appears the food is fabricated from two or more ingredients and the label does not list the common or usual name of each ingredient.”
Is SULFITELBL a food safety finding?
No. SULFITELBL 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 SULFITELBL?
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.