FDA Holds Multiple Chinese Food Exports in May 2024

June 4, 2024 - According to reports from the Food Partner Network, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has placed automatic detention orders on a number of Chinese food products so far in May 2024. The details are as follows:

1. On May 2nd, the FDA issued an automatic detention order for Rohu fish from Hainan Eternal Spring Fisheries Co., Ltd. in Hainan province due to the detection of chloramphenicol.
2. On May 6th, the FDA placed an automatic detention order on a variety of food products including grain products, ice cream, vegetable products, fruit products, and meat products from DANDONG YILIN FOOD CO., LTD. in Liaoning province. The reason cited was the company's refusal to allow an FDA inspection.
3. Also on May 6th, the FDA issued an automatic detention order for fish roe-stuffed fish balls and golden fried fish balls from Jing Li Hwa Foods Co., Ltd. in Kaohsiung, Taiwan due to labeling errors.
4. On May 8th, the FDA placed automatic detention orders on Oreo matcha-flavored cocoa rolls from two companies - GUANGZHOU ROYAL PACIFIC TRADING CO., LTD. in Guangzhou, Guangdong and Shanghai Mcvolf Food Co., Ltd. in Shanghai. The reason given was the presence of gardenia blue color.
5. On May 8th, the FDA issued automatic detention orders on black fungus from XIAMEN SHI ZHOU YANG INDUSTRY CO., LTD. in Xiamen, Fujian for the presence of phoxim, and on potato chips from Guangzhou Bengaoshawu Food Co., Ltd. in Guangzhou, Guangdong for suspected use of unsafe food additives.
6. On May 22nd, the FDA again placed an automatic detention order on black fungus from XIAMEN SHI ZHOU YANG INDUSTRY CO., LTD. in Xiamen, Fujian, this time for the presence of salmonella.

Lastly, on May 24th, the FDA issued an automatic detention order on dehydrated green peas from Xinghua Runhe Foods Co. Ltd. in Taizhou, Jiangsu. The peas were found to contain multiple pesticide residues including hydramethylnon, abamectin, chlorpyrifos, imidacloprid, and others.

Automatic detention by the FDA does not necessarily mean the affected products violate U.S. import standards. Companies can submit the detained goods for testing by the FDA or an approved lab, and if found compliant, the products will be released for entry into the U.S. market. Food Partner Network advises Chinese exporters to strictly control food production processes, pesticide residues, and overall compliance to avoid future import detentions.