US FDA food import refusals by origin, 2020–2025
The US Food and Drug Administration refused 22,156 imported food entries in 2020–2025, from 146 origin countries. 73% were hazard findings and 27% paperwork alone. 15% concerned vitamins, minerals, proteins, and unconventional dietary specialties for humans; the most-cited safety charge was filth, and the most-cited paperwork charge nutrition labeling.
Every US food import refusal, 1 January 2020 to 31 December 2025. A refusal is one import entry, however many product lines it carried. Download every table (CSV).
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By year
| Year | Refusals |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 2,726 |
| 2021 | 2,893 |
| 2022 | 3,412 |
| 2023 | 3,516 |
| 2024 | 3,984 |
| 2025 | 5,625 |
| 2020–2025 | 22,156 |
Tables below show each year 2020–2025; cells are shaded against their row's own peak. Change compares 2025 with 2020 and is shown only where 2020 had at least 10 refusals ("new" where it had none).
Hazard or paperwork
A refusal is a hazard finding when any of its charges is a safety one — filth, pathogens, residues, contaminants, unsafe additives — and paperwork when every charge is labelling, registration or a missing filing. One citing only charge codes FDA has not published is unclassified.
| Year | Hazard findings | Paperwork only | Unclassified | Hazard share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 1,980 | 746 | 0 | 72.6% |
| 2021 | 1,967 | 926 | 0 | 68.0% |
| 2022 | 2,551 | 861 | 0 | 74.8% |
| 2023 | 2,630 | 886 | 0 | 74.8% |
| 2024 | 2,847 | 1,137 | 0 | 71.5% |
| 2025 | 4,156 | 1,467 | 2 | 73.9% |
| 2020–2025 | 16,131 | 6,023 | 2 | 72.8% |
By industry
| FDA industry | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2020–2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vitamins, Minerals, Proteins, and Unconventional Dietary Specialties for Humans | 493 | 623 | 481 | 487 | 571 | 684 | 3,339 (15.1%) | +39% |
| Vegetables and Vegetable Products | 371 | 361 | 535 | 528 | 613 | 767 | 3,175 (14.3%) | +107% |
| Fruit and Fruit Products | 368 | 380 | 501 | 515 | 576 | 748 | 3,088 (13.9%) | +103% |
| Fishery/Seafood Products | 383 | 419 | 385 | 422 | 408 | 943 | 2,960 (13.4%) | +146% |
| Snack Food Items (Flour, Meal, or Vegetable Base) | 67 | 93 | 307 | 191 | 213 | 360 | 1,231 (5.6%) | +437% |
| Spices, Flavors, and Salts | 147 | 181 | 132 | 172 | 190 | 230 | 1,052 (4.7%) | +56% |
| Bakery Products, Doughs, Bakery Mixes, and Icings | 145 | 122 | 138 | 152 | 141 | 250 | 948 (4.3%) | +72% |
| Nuts and Edible Seeds | 83 | 106 | 149 | 203 | 210 | 174 | 925 (4.2%) | +110% |
| Candy Without Chocolate, Candy Specialties, and Chewing Gum | 103 | 104 | 114 | 173 | 135 | 250 | 879 (4.0%) | +143% |
| Whole Grains, Milled Grain Products, and Starch | 96 | 32 | 60 | 134 | 183 | 213 | 718 (3.2%) | +122% |
| Multiple Food Dinners, Gravies, Sauces, and Specialties (Total Diet) | 44 | 39 | 32 | 48 | 158 | 224 | 545 (2.5%) | +409% |
| Soft Drinks and Waters | 64 | 60 | 69 | 64 | 94 | 113 | 464 (2.1%) | +77% |
| Macaroni and Noodle Products | 85 | 79 | 41 | 38 | 92 | 80 | 415 (1.9%) | −6% |
| Dietary Conventional Foods and Meal Replacements | 43 | 27 | 51 | 82 | 67 | 100 | 370 (1.7%) | +133% |
| Color Additives for Foods, Drugs, and Cosmetics | 1 | 0 | 189 | 28 | 7 | 3 | 228 (1.0%) | — |
| Chocolate and Cocoa Products | 26 | 21 | 24 | 19 | 53 | 76 | 219 (1.0%) | +192% |
| Baby (Infant and Junior) Food Products | 16 | 29 | 16 | 52 | 45 | 54 | 212 (1.0%) | +238% |
| Milk, Butter, and Dried Milk Products | 30 | 17 | 43 | 31 | 22 | 48 | 191 (0.9%) | +60% |
| Coffee and Tea | 32 | 32 | 8 | 25 | 28 | 42 | 167 (0.8%) | +31% |
| Cheese and Cheese Products | 18 | 42 | 27 | 13 | 32 | 32 | 164 (0.7%) | +78% |
| Food Sweeteners (Nutritive) | 17 | 37 | 29 | 31 | 17 | 25 | 156 (0.7%) | +47% |
| Vegetable Oils (Includes Olive Oil) | 19 | 20 | 16 | 18 | 30 | 45 | 148 (0.7%) | +137% |
| Dressings and Condiments | 18 | 19 | 16 | 19 | 29 | 23 | 124 (0.6%) | +28% |
| Beverage Bases | 19 | 12 | 18 | 17 | 23 | 31 | 120 (0.5%) | +63% |
| Ice Cream and Related Products | 5 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 30 | 57 (0.3%) | — |
| Vegetable Protein Products (Simulated Meats) | 6 | 5 | 3 | 15 | 10 | 18 | 57 (0.3%) | — |
| Cereal Preparations, Breakfast Foods | 3 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 14 | 17 | 48 (0.2%) | — |
| Gelatin, Rennet, Pudding Mixes, and Pie Fillings | 3 | 4 | 4 | 11 | 4 | 16 | 42 (0.2%) | — |
| Filled Milk and Imitation Milk Products | 3 | 4 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 4 | 31 (0.1%) | — |
| Soups | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 11 | 26 (0.1%) | — |
| Alcoholic Beverages | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 15 (0.1%) | — |
| Food Additives - for Human Use | 4 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 13 (0.1%) | — |
| Meat, Meat Products, and Poultry | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 11 (0.0%) | — |
| Edible Insects and Insect-Derived Foods | 1 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 (0.0%) | — |
| Egg and Egg Products | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 8 (0.0%) | — |
| Miscellaneous Food Related Items | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 (0.0%) | — |
| Prepared Salad | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 (0.0%) | new |
By charge group
A refusal citing charges in two groups counts once in each, so rows can add up to more than the total.
| Charge group | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2020–2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labelling (paperwork) | 802 | 792 | 942 | 1,060 | 1,267 | 1,538 | 6,401 (28.9%) | +92% |
| Filth and insanitary conditions (hazard) | 658 | 735 | 799 | 912 | 803 | 1,574 | 5,481 (24.7%) | +139% |
| Unsafe additives (hazard) | 455 | 416 | 748 | 549 | 606 | 936 | 3,710 (16.7%) | +106% |
| Process and registration (paperwork) | 384 | 603 | 571 | 490 | 601 | 964 | 3,613 (16.3%) | +151% |
| Pesticide residues (hazard) | 395 | 272 | 437 | 662 | 805 | 821 | 3,392 (15.3%) | +108% |
| Salmonella (hazard) | 298 | 386 | 337 | 289 | 362 | 434 | 2,106 (9.5%) | +46% |
| Contaminants (hazard) | 158 | 165 | 190 | 234 | 302 | 400 | 1,449 (6.5%) | +153% |
| Undeclared allergens (hazard) | 70 | 61 | 53 | 64 | 117 | 101 | 466 (2.1%) | +44% |
| Listeria monocytogenes (hazard) | 36 | 51 | 79 | 50 | 56 | 128 | 400 (1.8%) | +256% |
| Veterinary drug residues (hazard) | 53 | 58 | 55 | 57 | 68 | 94 | 385 (1.7%) | +77% |
| Histamine (hazard) | 12 | 24 | 15 | 13 | 21 | 54 | 139 (0.6%) | +350% |
| Mycotoxins (hazard) | 11 | 11 | 16 | 9 | 17 | 23 | 87 (0.4%) | +109% |
| Other pathogens (hazard) | 7 | 6 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 30 (0.1%) | — |
| Other charges (no group) | 8 | 7 | 16 | 28 | 17 | 12 | 88 (0.4%) | — |
| No charge recorded | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 (0.0%) | new |
Most-cited charges
FDA's own charge codes, with a plain-English label. Each is counted once per refusal.
Safety charges
| Charge | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2020–2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
filth FILTHY |
518 | 632 | 703 | 794 | 633 | 884 | 4,164 | +71% |
pesticide residue PESTICIDE |
395 | 272 | 437 | 662 | 805 | 821 | 3,392 | +108% |
unsafe color additive UNSAFE COL |
227 | 221 | 605 | 421 | 363 | 714 | 2,551 | +215% |
Salmonella SALMONELLA |
298 | 386 | 337 | 289 | 362 | 434 | 2,106 | +46% |
poisonous or deleterious substance POISONOUS |
90 | 98 | 115 | 138 | 143 | 198 | 782 | +120% |
unsafe food additive UNSAFE ADD |
53 | 59 | 70 | 94 | 259 | 235 | 770 | +343% |
insanitary plant MFR INSAN |
35 | 56 | 48 | 67 | 89 | 329 | 624 | +840% |
insanitary handling MFR INJ |
13 | 23 | 27 | 25 | 53 | 453 | 594 | +3385% |
undeclared allergen ALLERGEN |
69 | 60 | 52 | 61 | 116 | 100 | 458 | +45% |
melamine MELAMINE |
83 | 44 | 46 | 42 | 76 | 138 | 429 | +66% |
Paperwork charges
| Charge | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2020–2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
nutrition labeling NUTRIT LBL |
340 | 375 | 298 | 442 | 535 | 643 | 2,633 | +89% |
unapproved new drug UNAPPROVED |
238 | 390 | 347 | 283 | 300 | 461 | 2,019 | +94% |
not in English NO ENGLISH |
170 | 222 | 391 | 307 | 398 | 361 | 1,849 | +112% |
color not declared COLOR LBLG |
144 | 155 | 354 | 289 | 258 | 490 | 1,690 | +240% |
ingredients not listed LIST INGRE |
205 | 202 | 176 | 214 | 269 | 329 | 1,395 | +60% |
no net quantity LACKS N/C |
114 | 180 | 176 | 198 | 268 | 295 | 1,231 | +159% |
no manufacturer name LACKS FIRM |
111 | 136 | 104 | 115 | 179 | 167 | 812 | +50% |
false or misleading label FALSE |
124 | 87 | 62 | 115 | 178 | 217 | 783 | +75% |
no process filing NO PROCESS |
105 | 134 | 96 | 116 | 123 | 198 | 772 | +89% |
labeling LABELING |
86 | 70 | 74 | 111 | 129 | 148 | 618 | +72% |
By month
Pooled across 2020–2025. Each row is shaded against its own peak, so its season shows whatever its size. Hazard findings peak in September; Paperwork only peak in December.
Hazard or paperwork
| Kind | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hazard findings | 1,386 | 1,203 | 1,317 | 1,361 | 1,276 | 1,244 | 1,307 | 1,329 | 1,665 | 1,347 | 1,295 | 1,401 | September |
| Paperwork only | 505 | 403 | 499 | 464 | 456 | 489 | 549 | 564 | 475 | 525 | 520 | 574 | December |
By charge group
| Charge group | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labelling | 540 | 474 | 547 | 612 | 507 | 464 | 544 | 599 | 510 | 581 | 464 | 559 | April |
| Filth and insanitary conditions | 424 | 367 | 410 | 454 | 496 | 411 | 445 | 389 | 677 | 440 | 474 | 494 | September |
| Unsafe additives | 316 | 251 | 267 | 351 | 265 | 256 | 288 | 391 | 383 | 354 | 270 | 318 | August |
| Process and registration | 274 | 208 | 299 | 252 | 269 | 332 | 327 | 356 | 308 | 296 | 331 | 361 | December |
| Pesticide residues | 294 | 309 | 334 | 281 | 272 | 299 | 283 | 230 | 291 | 256 | 271 | 272 | March |
Import divisions
The FDA division that handled the entry. DSWI and DNBI are the Mexican and Canadian land borders, so this says as much about the route as about the product.
| Division | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2020–2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DSEI — Southeast | 639 | 812 | 974 | 823 | 827 | 1,385 | 5,460 | +117% |
| DNEI — Northeast | 715 | 694 | 633 | 747 | 934 | 1,446 | 5,169 | +102% |
| DWCI — West Coast | 670 | 599 | 678 | 794 | 879 | 1,162 | 4,782 | +73% |
| DSWI — Southwest, the Mexican land border | 459 | 445 | 765 | 708 | 799 | 972 | 4,148 | +112% |
| DNBI — North Border, the Canadian land border | 243 | 343 | 362 | 444 | 545 | 660 | 2,597 | +172% |
Top origins by year
2025
| Origin | Refusals |
|---|---|
| India | 1,116 |
| Mexico | 792 |
| China | 542 |
| Indonesia | 403 |
| Vietnam | 188 |
| Canada | 179 |
| Philippines | 167 |
| Thailand | 120 |
| United Kingdom | 105 |
| Guatemala | 98 |
| Pakistan | 95 |
| Turkey | 93 |
| South Korea | 80 |
| Portugal | 70 |
| Taiwan | 64 |
| Senegal | 59 |
| Japan | 58 |
| Egypt | 55 |
| Greece | 55 |
| Brazil | 54 |
2024
| Origin | Refusals |
|---|---|
| India | 790 |
| Mexico | 702 |
| China | 348 |
| Canada | 182 |
| Vietnam | 174 |
| Philippines | 145 |
| Guatemala | 94 |
| Thailand | 84 |
| Pakistan | 71 |
| Indonesia | 65 |
| South Korea | 60 |
| United Kingdom | 59 |
| Japan | 55 |
| Turkey | 55 |
| Egypt | 53 |
| Italy | 53 |
| Nigeria | 53 |
| United States | 43 |
| Bangladesh | 38 |
| Colombia | 35 |
2023
| Origin | Refusals |
|---|---|
| Mexico | 647 |
| India | 608 |
| China | 292 |
| Canada | 175 |
| Vietnam | 169 |
| South Korea | 101 |
| Pakistan | 95 |
| Indonesia | 89 |
| Thailand | 83 |
| Guatemala | 63 |
| Japan | 62 |
| Philippines | 56 |
| Australia | 53 |
| Turkey | 53 |
| Taiwan | 52 |
| Colombia | 43 |
| Italy | 39 |
| United Kingdom | 37 |
| Brazil | 35 |
| Spain | 31 |
2022
| Origin | Refusals |
|---|---|
| Mexico | 864 |
| India | 402 |
| China | 346 |
| Australia | 194 |
| Vietnam | 130 |
| Canada | 98 |
| Indonesia | 88 |
| Guatemala | 72 |
| Thailand | 63 |
| Japan | 52 |
| Turkey | 52 |
| South Korea | 51 |
| Brazil | 44 |
| Malaysia | 44 |
| Taiwan | 42 |
| Honduras | 41 |
| Hong Kong | 40 |
| Pakistan | 37 |
| Peru | 37 |
| United Kingdom | 35 |
2021
| Origin | Refusals |
|---|---|
| India | 429 |
| Mexico | 410 |
| China | 302 |
| Malaysia | 178 |
| Indonesia | 175 |
| Turkey | 128 |
| Vietnam | 108 |
| Canada | 97 |
| South Korea | 80 |
| Bangladesh | 47 |
| Japan | 40 |
| Thailand | 40 |
| Brazil | 35 |
| Colombia | 34 |
| Pakistan | 29 |
| Dominican Republic | 27 |
| Netherlands | 27 |
| Taiwan | 27 |
| Guatemala | 25 |
| United Kingdom | 24 |
2020
| Origin | Refusals |
|---|---|
| Mexico | 415 |
| India | 380 |
| China | 330 |
| Indonesia | 189 |
| South Korea | 98 |
| Thailand | 84 |
| Italy | 75 |
| Vietnam | 65 |
| United Kingdom | 59 |
| Taiwan | 50 |
| Canada | 49 |
| United States | 47 |
| Japan | 43 |
| Turkey | 39 |
| Philippines | 38 |
| Pakistan | 37 |
| Brazil | 36 |
| Hong Kong | 31 |
| Colombia | 27 |
| Australia | 26 |
Method
- Source: FDA Import Refusal Report (U.S. Food and Drug Administration); every food import refusal dated 2020–2025.
- Counts are import entries, not product lines. A refusal naming several origins counts once for each, so origin shares can add up to more than 100%.
- Charge groups are this site's grouping of FDA's charge codes; a code belongs to the first group that claims it, the same rule as the hazard pages.
- A charge is what FDA cited to refuse the entry, often on appearance or documents rather than a laboratory result. Counts depend on how often each product is examined, so they are not a rate of unsafe food.
- Licence: CC-BY-4.0. Cite as "US FDA food import refusals by origin, 2020–2025", fruit-risk.com, 2026-09-20, https://fdair.fruit-risk.com/reports/all.html.