China: FDA food import refusals, 2020–2025
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China was the origin of 2,160 of 22,156 US food import refusals in 2020–2025 (9.7%), ranking 3rd of 146 origins. 82% were hazard findings and 18% paperwork alone. 26% concerned vegetables and vegetable products; the most-cited safety charge was filth, and the most-cited paperwork charge ingredients not listed.
Every US food import refusal naming China as origin, 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 | Share of US total | Rank among origins |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 330 | 12.1% | 3 |
| 2021 | 302 | 10.4% | 3 |
| 2022 | 346 | 10.1% | 3 |
| 2023 | 292 | 8.3% | 3 |
| 2024 | 348 | 8.7% | 3 |
| 2025 | 542 | 9.6% | 3 |
| 2020–2025 | 2,160 | 9.7% | 3 |
Year links open that year's refusals, entry by entry.
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 | 266 | 64 | 0 | 80.6% |
| 2021 | 237 | 65 | 0 | 78.5% |
| 2022 | 285 | 61 | 0 | 82.4% |
| 2023 | 248 | 44 | 0 | 84.9% |
| 2024 | 277 | 71 | 0 | 79.6% |
| 2025 | 461 | 81 | 0 | 85.1% |
| 2020–2025 | 1,774 | 386 | 0 | 82.1% |
By industry
| FDA industry | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2020–2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vegetables and Vegetable Products rates → Leafy · Pepper · Vegetables-other |
64 | 67 | 127 | 101 | 66 | 134 | 559 (25.9%) | +109% |
| Fruit and Fruit Products rates → Berries-grapes · Citrus · Fruit-other · Stone-fruit · Tropical |
63 | 83 | 74 | 37 | 55 | 69 | 381 (17.6%) | +10% |
| Fishery/Seafood Products rates → Fish-other · Salmon · Shrimp-prawn · Squid-octopus |
33 | 26 | 32 | 37 | 45 | 58 | 231 (10.7%) | +76% |
| Bakery Products, Doughs, Bakery Mixes, and Icings rates → Bakery |
46 | 24 | 26 | 21 | 41 | 72 | 230 (10.6%) | +57% |
| Vitamins, Minerals, Proteins, and Unconventional Dietary Specialties for Humans rates → Herbals-botanicals · Supplements |
27 | 27 | 20 | 26 | 30 | 34 | 164 (7.6%) | +26% |
| Snack Food Items (Flour, Meal, or Vegetable Base) rates → Snacks |
13 | 7 | 11 | 15 | 18 | 15 | 79 (3.7%) | +15% |
| Spices, Flavors, and Salts rates → Spices-other |
6 | 13 | 17 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 64 (3.0%) | — |
| Nuts and Edible Seeds rates → Groundnut · Other-nuts · Sesame · Sunflower |
4 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 25 | 7 | 45 (2.1%) | — |
| Ice Cream and Related Products rates → | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 28 | 42 (1.9%) | — |
| Whole Grains, Milled Grain Products, and Starch rates → Grains-starch-other · Maize-corn · Rice · Wheat |
14 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 41 (1.9%) | −50% |
| Candy Without Chocolate, Candy Specialties, and Chewing Gum | 8 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 16 | 40 (1.9%) | — |
| Milk, Butter, and Dried Milk Products rates → | 16 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 14 | 39 (1.8%) | −12% |
| Coffee and Tea rates → | 3 | 12 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 12 | 37 (1.7%) | — |
| Vegetable Protein Products (Simulated Meats) rates → | 4 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 13 | 36 (1.7%) | — |
| Chocolate and Cocoa Products | 4 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 12 | 3 | 29 (1.3%) | — |
| Macaroni and Noodle Products | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 5 | 26 (1.2%) | — |
| Soft Drinks and Waters rates → Soft-drinks |
3 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 23 (1.1%) | — |
| Multiple Food Dinners, Gravies, Sauces, and Specialties (Total Diet) rates → Sauces-prepared |
3 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 20 (0.9%) | — |
| Cereal Preparations, Breakfast Foods | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 14 (0.6%) | — |
| Dietary Conventional Foods and Meal Replacements | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 13 (0.6%) | — |
| Beverage Bases | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 11 (0.5%) | — |
| Gelatin, Rennet, Pudding Mixes, and Pie Fillings | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 9 (0.4%) | — |
| Egg and Egg Products | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 (0.3%) | — |
| Food Additives - for Human Use | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 (0.3%) | — |
| Food Sweeteners (Nutritive) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 (0.3%) | — |
| Filled Milk and Imitation Milk Products rates → | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 (0.2%) | — |
| Baby (Infant and Junior) Food Products | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 (0.0%) | — |
| Cheese and Cheese Products | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 (0.0%) | — |
| Meat, Meat Products, and Poultry | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 (0.0%) | — |
| Soups rates → | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 (0.0%) | — |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Filth and insanitary conditions (hazard) | 141 | 130 | 143 | 103 | 115 | 174 | 806 (37.3%) | +23% |
| Contaminants (hazard) | 90 | 59 | 77 | 60 | 94 | 170 | 550 (25.5%) | +89% |
| Labelling (paperwork) | 60 | 66 | 46 | 54 | 78 | 109 | 413 (19.1%) | +82% |
| Process and registration (paperwork) | 42 | 42 | 54 | 30 | 51 | 70 | 289 (13.4%) | +67% |
| Pesticide residues (hazard) | 34 | 24 | 22 | 40 | 61 | 74 | 255 (11.8%) | +118% |
| Unsafe additives (hazard) | 24 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 40 | 68 | 199 (9.2%) | +183% |
| Veterinary drug residues (hazard) | 19 | 13 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 17 | 100 (4.6%) | −11% |
| Listeria monocytogenes (hazard) | 1 | 7 | 27 | 24 | 4 | 21 | 84 (3.9%) | — |
| Undeclared allergens (hazard) | 4 | 9 | 5 | 9 | 13 | 19 | 59 (2.7%) | — |
| Salmonella (hazard) | 6 | 6 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 10 | 46 (2.1%) | — |
| Mycotoxins (hazard) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 (0.1%) | — |
| Histamine (hazard) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 (0.0%) | — |
| Other charges (no group) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 (0.1%) | — |
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 |
98 | 115 | 125 | 78 | 79 | 115 | 610 | +17% |
melamine MELAMINE |
82 | 44 | 43 | 39 | 76 | 137 | 421 | +67% |
pesticide residue PESTICIDE |
34 | 24 | 22 | 40 | 61 | 74 | 255 | +118% |
poisonous or deleterious substance POISONOUS |
43 | 21 | 42 | 31 | 47 | 69 | 253 | +60% |
unfit for food UNFIT4FOOD |
34 | 12 | 17 | 18 | 37 | 43 | 161 | +26% |
unsafe color additive UNSAFE COL |
11 | 8 | 9 | 13 | 20 | 48 | 109 | +336% |
veterinary drug residue VETDRUGRES |
18 | 13 | 17 | 17 | 14 | 17 | 96 | −6% |
Listeria monocytogenes LISTERIA |
1 | 7 | 27 | 24 | 4 | 21 | 84 | — |
unsafe food additive UNSAFE ADD |
13 | 9 | 10 | 7 | 22 | 14 | 75 | +8% |
undeclared allergen ALLERGEN |
4 | 9 | 4 | 9 | 13 | 19 | 58 | — |
Paperwork charges
| Charge | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2020–2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ingredients not listed LIST INGRE |
20 | 31 | 16 | 22 | 23 | 34 | 146 | +70% |
nutrition labeling NUTRIT LBL |
15 | 28 | 17 | 15 | 23 | 48 | 146 | +220% |
not in English NO ENGLISH |
19 | 22 | 17 | 20 | 24 | 34 | 136 | +79% |
no manufacturer name LACKS FIRM |
13 | 25 | 14 | 13 | 31 | 37 | 133 | +185% |
no process filing NO PROCESS |
21 | 19 | 12 | 10 | 21 | 21 | 104 | +0% |
no net quantity LACKS N/C |
10 | 17 | 13 | 13 | 16 | 29 | 98 | +190% |
FSVP violation FSVP VIO |
0 | 7 | 33 | 4 | 11 | 13 | 68 | — |
no food-canning registration NEEDS FCE |
15 | 14 | 7 | 4 | 18 | 9 | 67 | −40% |
color not declared COLOR LBLG |
2 | 2 | 7 | 8 | 11 | 33 | 63 | — |
unapproved new drug UNAPPROVED |
12 | 11 | 4 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 54 | −25% |
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 January; Paperwork only peak in March.
Hazard or paperwork
| Kind | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hazard findings | 181 | 136 | 167 | 131 | 138 | 119 | 137 | 127 | 156 | 151 | 152 | 179 | January |
| Paperwork only | 31 | 27 | 56 | 40 | 30 | 26 | 22 | 26 | 25 | 46 | 31 | 26 | March |
By charge group
| Charge group | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Filth and insanitary conditions | 80 | 47 | 74 | 74 | 72 | 39 | 62 | 57 | 68 | 80 | 69 | 84 | December |
| Contaminants | 65 | 40 | 52 | 38 | 38 | 33 | 44 | 42 | 49 | 46 | 51 | 52 | January |
| Labelling | 40 | 30 | 52 | 40 | 34 | 27 | 21 | 28 | 28 | 45 | 38 | 30 | March |
| Process and registration | 26 | 15 | 44 | 21 | 25 | 27 | 18 | 14 | 23 | 33 | 23 | 20 | March |
| Pesticide residues | 32 | 21 | 20 | 14 | 17 | 28 | 15 | 21 | 28 | 16 | 12 | 31 | January |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DWCI — West Coast | 138 | 147 | 155 | 152 | 177 | 247 | 1,016 | +79% |
| DNEI — Northeast | 140 | 113 | 143 | 91 | 101 | 199 | 787 | +42% |
| DSEI — Southeast | 24 | 26 | 23 | 27 | 26 | 57 | 183 | +138% |
| DNBI — North Border, the Canadian land border | 17 | 13 | 20 | 20 | 25 | 29 | 124 | +71% |
| DSWI — Southwest, the Mexican land border | 11 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 19 | 10 | 50 | −9% |
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 "China: FDA food import refusals, 2020–2025", fruit-risk.com, 2026-09-20, https://fdair.fruit-risk.com/reports/china.html.
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