FDA refusal charge UNSAFE COL: unsafe color additive
← All charge codes Unsafe additives Dashboard
The UNSAFE COL charge appeared in 3,181 FDA import refusals between 2020 and 2026 — 16.6% of the 19,123 refusals that identify a hazard. The origins cited most often are Mexico, India, China. The most-affected product category is Snack Food Items (Flour, Meal, or Vegetable Base). Volume in 2025 was up 97% on 2024.
Email me about new FDA import refusals involving the UNSAFE COL charge
One email a week, and only when something matches. We'll send a confirmation link first; unsubscribe any time from the footer of any email.
What FDA's charge says
UNSAFE COL 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 appears to be, or to bear or contain a color additive which is unsafe within the meaning of Section 721(a).
UNSAFE COL refusals by year
| Year | Refusals | YoY | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 227 | — | |
| 2021 | 221 | -2.6% | |
| 2022 | 605 | +173.8% | |
| 2023 | 421 | -30.4% | |
| 2024 | 363 | -13.8% | |
| 2025 | 714 | +96.7% | |
| 2026 | 630 | — | YTD |
| Total | 3,181 |
Origins most often refused under UNSAFE COL
| # | Origin country | Refusals |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mexico | 1,053 |
| 2 | India | 307 |
| 3 | China | 251 |
| 4 | Australia | 175 |
| 5 | Philippines | 118 |
| 6 | United Kingdom | 118 |
| 7 | Canada | 110 |
| 8 | Japan | 103 |
| 9 | Turkey | 75 |
| 10 | Italy | 63 |
| 11 | Sweden | 61 |
| 12 | Guatemala | 50 |
| 13 | Pakistan | 40 |
| 14 | Taiwan | 39 |
| 15 | El Salvador | 33 |
| 16 | Bangladesh | 32 |
| 17 | Honduras | 32 |
| 18 | Vietnam | 32 |
| 19 | Jordan | 30 |
| 20 | Spain | 30 |
| 21 | Thailand | 29 |
| 22 | Nigeria | 27 |
| 23 | Colombia | 26 |
| 24 | South Korea | 23 |
| 25 | United States | 17 |
| 26 | South Africa | 15 |
| 27 | Israel | 14 |
| 28 | Lebanon | 14 |
| 29 | Trinidad and Tobago | 14 |
| 30 | Yemen | 12 |
Product categories refused under UNSAFE COL
| # | Product category | Refusals |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Snack Food Items (Flour, Meal, or Vegetable Base) | 804 |
| 2 | Candy Without Chocolate, Candy Specialties, and Chewing Gum | 607 |
| 3 | Bakery Products, Doughs, Bakery Mixes, and Icings | 251 |
| 4 | Soft Drinks and Waters | 217 |
| 5 | Fruit and Fruit Products | 198 |
| 6 | Color Additives for Foods, Drugs, and Cosmetics | 182 |
| 7 | Ice Cream and Related Products | 122 |
| 8 | Multiple Food Dinners, Gravies, Sauces, and Specialties (Total Diet) | 119 |
| 9 | Spices, Flavors, and Salts | 89 |
| 10 | Vegetables and Vegetable Products | 76 |
| 11 | Chocolate and Cocoa Products | 72 |
| 12 | Nuts and Edible Seeds | 58 |
| 13 | Dietary Conventional Foods and Meal Replacements | 54 |
| 14 | Vitamins, Minerals, Proteins, and Unconventional Dietary Specialties for Humans | 54 |
| 15 | Beverage Bases | 51 |
Latest refusals citing UNSAFE COL
- AEK-2078038-2 BUBBLE GUM (WITHOUT CHOCOLATE)From United Kingdom, Candy Without Chocolate, Candy Specialties, and Chewing Gum. unsafe color additive
- 1FX-1465717-6 JELLIED CANDY, SOFT (JELLY BEANS, GUM DROPS, ETC.), WITHOUT NUTS AND FRUIT (WITHOUT CHOCOLATE)From Sweden, Candy Without Chocolate, Candy Specialties, and Chewing Gum. unsafe color additive
- 1FX-5471974-6 CANDY WITHOUT CHOCOLATE N.E.C.From Sweden, Candy Without Chocolate, Candy Specialties, and Chewing Gum. unsafe color additivecolor not declared
- SCS-5183735-7 SYRUPS AND MOLASSES, N.E.C.From Canada, Food Sweeteners (Nutritive). filthingredients not listedno process filingno manufacturer name+2 more
- 555-0730387-7 CHEWING GUM (WITHOUT CHOCOLATE)From Italy, Candy Without Chocolate, Candy Specialties, and Chewing Gum. unsafe color additivecolor not declared
- 1FX-5191845-7 JELLIED CANDY, SOFT (JELLY BEANS, GUM DROPS, ETC.), WITHOUT NUTS AND FRUIT (WITHOUT CHOCOLATE)From Sweden, Candy Without Chocolate, Candy Specialties, and Chewing Gum. unsafe color additivecolor not declared
- NFT-2094131-5 ICES, FRUIT FLAVORED, ON A STICK, (POPSICLES, ETC.)From China, Ice Cream and Related Products. unsafe color additivecolor not declared
- 930-0370472-8 SOFT DRINK, COLA, CARBONATEDFrom India, Soft Drinks and Waters. unsafe color additivenutrition labeling
- 1FX-5312797-4 SOFT CANDY WITHOUT NUTS AND FRUIT, N.E.C. (WITHOUT CHOCOLATE)From Sweden, Candy Without Chocolate, Candy Specialties, and Chewing Gum. unsafe color additive
- 1FX-5477790-0 CANDY WITHOUT CHOCOLATE N.E.C.From Sweden, Candy Without Chocolate, Candy Specialties, and Chewing Gum. unsafe color additive
- BJG-0222031-6 SOFT DRINK, SUBTROPICAL OR TROPICAL FRUIT FLAVORED, CARBONATEDFrom Mexico, Soft Drinks and Waters. unsafe color additivecolor not declarednutrition labeling
- 065-0914766-3 OTHER BAKERY PRODUCTS, N.E.C.From China, Bakery Products, Doughs, Bakery Mixes, and Icings. unsafe color additive
- K64-3065975-0 GINGER ROOT (ROOT & TUBER VEGETABLE)From Japan, Vegetables and Vegetable Products. unsafe color additive
- NFT-2094192-7 ICES, FRUIT FLAVORED, ON A STICK, (POPSICLES, ETC.)From China, Ice Cream and Related Products. unsafe color additivecolor not declared
- N56-0051370-3 SALT (TABLE SALT) N.E.C.From Ghana, Spices, Flavors, and Salts. nutrition labelingunsafe color additive
- AEK-9672275-4 CANDY WITHOUT CHOCOLATE N.E.C.From Canada, Candy Without Chocolate, Candy Specialties, and Chewing Gum. unsafe color additiveno net quantitynutrition labeling
- KM6-1653589-4 SPICES AND SEASONING, GROUND, CRACKED, WITH SALT, N.E.C.From India, Spices, Flavors, and Salts. unsafe color additivecolor not declared
- EVR-0195581-9 MELON SEEDS (EDIBLE SEED)From Vietnam, Nuts and Edible Seeds. unsafe color additive
- DM4-0866932-1 ORANGE, CITRUS FRUIT JUICES OR CONCENTRATESFrom Guatemala, Fruit and Fruit Products. unsafe color additivenot in Englishno standard namejuice percentage not declared+1 more
- NFT-2072767-2 ICES, FRUIT FLAVORED, ON A STICK, (POPSICLES, ETC.)From China, Ice Cream and Related Products. unsafe color additivecolor not declaredFD&C Yellow No. 5 undeclared
About UNSAFE COL
What does the FDA import refusal charge UNSAFE COL mean?
FDA uses UNSAFE COL for: unsafe color additive. Its published charge language reads: “The article appears to be, or to bear or contain a color additive which is unsafe within the meaning of Section 721(a).”
Is UNSAFE COL a food safety finding?
Yes. This site counts UNSAFE COL 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 UNSAFE COL?
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.