FDA refusal charge YELLOW #5: FD&C Yellow No. 5 undeclared

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The YELLOW #5 charge appeared in 143 FDA import refusals between 2020 and 2026 — 0.7% of the 19,123 refusals that identify a hazard. The origins cited most often are India, China, Canada. The most-affected product category is Bakery Products, Doughs, Bakery Mixes, and Icings. Volume in 2025 was up 189% on 2024.

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What FDA's charge says

YELLOW #5 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 food appears to bear or contain the color additive FD & C Yellow No. 5, which is not declared on the label per 21 CFR 74.705(a)(c) under section 721.
Sections 402(c), 403(m), 801(a)(3); ADULTERATION, MISBRANDING

YELLOW #5 refusals by year

Year	Refusals	YoY
2020	14	—
2021	8	-42.9%
2022	17	+112.5%
2023	34	+100.0%
2024	9	-73.5%
2025	26	+188.9%
2026	35	—	YTD
Total	143

Origins most often refused under YELLOW #5

#	Origin country	Refusals
1	India	21
2	China	19
3	Canada	18
4	Japan	8
5	Mexico	8
6	Philippines	7
7	Guatemala	6
8	United States	6
9	Thailand	5
10	Georgia	4
11	Jordan	3
12	Lebanon	3
13	Malaysia	3
14	Morocco	3
15	Nepal	3
16	Pakistan	3
17	Spain	3
18	Taiwan	3
19	Turkey	3
20	Colombia	2
21	Honduras	2
22	Yemen	2
23	-	1
24	Afghanistan	1
25	Bangladesh	1
26	Guyana	1
27	Myanmar	1
28	South Korea	1
29	Tanzania	1
30	Vietnam	1

Show all 30 originsShow the top 10

Product categories refused under YELLOW #5

#	Product category	Refusals
1	Bakery Products, Doughs, Bakery Mixes, and Icings	28
2	Candy Without Chocolate, Candy Specialties, and Chewing Gum	21
3	Ice Cream and Related Products	15
4	Snack Food Items (Flour, Meal, or Vegetable Base)	14
5	Vegetables and Vegetable Products	12
6	Soft Drinks and Waters	11
7	Fruit and Fruit Products	8
8	Spices, Flavors, and Salts	6
9	Gelatin, Rennet, Pudding Mixes, and Pie Fillings	5
10	Nuts and Edible Seeds	5
11	Beverage Bases	4
12	Macaroni and Noodle Products	3
13	Chocolate and Cocoa Products	2
14	Filled Milk and Imitation Milk Products	2
15	Milk, Butter, and Dried Milk Products	2

Latest refusals citing YELLOW #5

NFT-2072767-2 2026-09-30 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
NFT-2067117-7 2026-09-30 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
NFT-2072758-1 2026-09-30 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
NFT-2074380-2 2026-09-30 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
300-6087487-5 2026-09-28 BAKLAVAFrom Canada, Bakery Products, Doughs, Bakery Mixes, and Icings. unsafe color additivecolor not declaredFD&C Yellow No. 5 undeclared
9AR-0447184-3 2026-09-25 STRAWBERRY JUICE, BERRY JUICE OR CONCENTRATESFrom Thailand, Fruit and Fruit Products. unsafe color additiveingredients not listedno net quantitynot in English+4 more
NFT-2098486-9 2026-09-24 ICES, FRUIT FLAVORED, ON A STICK, (POPSICLES, ETC.)From China, Ice Cream and Related Products. FD&C Yellow No. 5 undeclared
BQL-0114719-6 2026-09-22 SOFT DRINK, IMITATION FRUIT FLAVORED, CARBONATEDFrom Georgia, Soft Drinks and Waters. unsafe color additiveFD&C Yellow No. 5 undeclared
BQL-0114718-8 2026-09-22 SOFT DRINK, IMITATION FRUIT FLAVORED, CARBONATEDFrom Georgia, Soft Drinks and Waters. unsafe color additiveFD&C Yellow No. 5 undeclared
BQL-0113509-2 2026-09-22 SOFT DRINK, IMITATION FRUIT FLAVORED, CARBONATEDFrom Georgia, Soft Drinks and Waters. color not declaredFD&C Yellow No. 5 undeclared
BQL-0113697-5 2026-09-22 SOFT DRINK, IMITATION FRUIT FLAVORED, CARBONATEDFrom Georgia, Soft Drinks and Waters. unsafe color additiveFD&C Yellow No. 5 undeclared
9DH-0083503-8 2026-09-09 OTHER BAKERY PRODUCTS, N.E.C.From United States, Bakery Products, Doughs, Bakery Mixes, and Icings. unsafe color additivecolor not declaredno net quantitynutrition labeling+1 more
U47-2608503-6 2026-09-09 ICE CREAM BARSFrom China, Ice Cream and Related Products. FD&C Yellow No. 5 undeclared
SCS-3273132-3 2026-09-08 MINT CANDY, HARD, WITHOUT NUTS AND FRUIT (WITHOUT CHOCOLATE)From Canada, Candy Without Chocolate, Candy Specialties, and Chewing Gum. unsafe color additivecolor not declaredno net quantitynutrition labeling+1 more
823-0223530-2 2026-09-01 ICE CREAM AND RELATED PRODUCTS, N.E.C.From China, Ice Cream and Related Products. FD&C Yellow No. 5 undeclared
NFT-2092697-7 2026-09-01 ICES, FRUIT FLAVORED, ON A STICK, (POPSICLES, ETC.)From China, Ice Cream and Related Products. FD&C Yellow No. 5 undeclared
NFT-2094189-3 2026-09-01 ICES, FRUIT FLAVORED, ON A STICK, (POPSICLES, ETC.)From China, Ice Cream and Related Products. FD&C Yellow No. 5 undeclared
N56-0051318-2 2026-09-01 CANDY SPECIALTIES, N.E.C. (WITHOUT CHOCOLATE)From Mexico, Candy Without Chocolate, Candy Specialties, and Chewing Gum. unsafe color additivecolor not declarednot in EnglishFD&C Yellow No. 5 undeclared
823-0223831-4 2026-09-01 ICE CREAM AND RELATED PRODUCTS, N.E.C.From China, Ice Cream and Related Products. melamineFD&C Yellow No. 5 undeclared
NFT-2094792-4 2026-08-07 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 YELLOW #5

What does the FDA import refusal charge YELLOW #5 mean?

FDA uses YELLOW #5 for: FD&C Yellow No. 5 undeclared. Its published charge language reads: “The food appears to bear or contain the color additive FD & C Yellow No. 5, which is not declared on the label per 21 CFR 74.705(a)(c) under section 721.”

Is YELLOW #5 a food safety finding?

Yes. This site counts YELLOW #5 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 YELLOW #5?

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.