The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has created “Import Alert 99-46” described as “Detention Without Physical Examination of Imported Human Foods due to Filth.” Filth includes, but is not limited to, insect, rodent and other animal filth, as well as mold.”
Specific products from a company may be added to the ‘red list’ if there have been three detentions in a six-month period and those detentions represent at least 25 percent of the total shipments of products examined.in that period.
Companies will then need to demonstrate that the conditions causing the violation were resolved. After that step has been taken, a minimum of five (5) consecutive non-violative commercial shipments before the agency that the appearance of the violation has been removed.