FDA warns seven importers

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has warned seven food importers after inspections found they failed to develop, maintain or follow foreign-supplier verification programs required under U.S. food-safety law. The letters concern importers in California, Florida, Georgia, New Jersey and Texas, according to FDA records and a Food Safety News report based on the agency’s postings. (foodsafetynews.com) The actions center on the Foreign Supplier Verification Program, or FSVP, a rule that makes U.S. importers responsible for checking whether foreign suppliers meet American safety standards. (fda.gov) ### What exactly is the FDA saying these importers failed to do? The FDA’s FSVP rule requires importers to develop, maintain and follow a verification program for each food they bring into the United States, unless an exemption applies. (fda.gov) That program is supposed to use risk-based checks to verify that imported food is produced with the same level of public-health protection required under U.S. standards and is not adulterated or misbranded for allergen labeling. Food Safety News reported that the seven importers were cited after inspections found missing or inadequate FSVP systems for products that included fresh produce, canned foods, dairy products, sauces, candy and other packaged foods. In several cases, the report said, FDA also found firms did not provide documentation showing corrective actions after inspectors identified violations. (foodsafetynews.com) ### Why does the rule put the burden on the U.S. importer? The 2011 Food Safety Modernization Act shifted FDA policy toward preventing contamination rather than mainly reacting after problems occur, and the FSVP rule is the import-side piece of that system. FDA says the rule is aimed at ensuring imported food meets the same U.S. safety standards expected of domestic producers. (fda.gov) FDA says the responsible party is the U.S. owner or consignee of the food at the time of entry, or, if there is no such owner, the U.S. agent or representative of the foreign owner or consignee. In practice, that means the importer cannot treat food safety as solely the foreign supplier’s problem. (foodsafetynews.com) ### What does an importer actually have to build under FSVP? FDA says an importer may need a qualified individual to develop the program and carry out FSVP activities. The rule can require a hazard analysis for each type of food, an evaluation of risks posed by the food and the supplier, and verification activities tied to those risks. (fda.gov) FDA’s importer portal explains that companies may be asked to upload FSVP records electronically after receiving a written request from the agency. Those records are meant to show that the importer has assessed hazards, reviewed supplier performance and documented the basis for its verification steps. (fda.gov) ### How public are these warning letters, and do they settle the case? FDA’s warning-letter page says the matters described may later be affected by subsequent interactions with the recipient, meaning a posted letter does not necessarily reflect the company’s current regulatory status. The same page shows warning letters, and in some cases later response or closeout materials, in a searchable database. (fda.gov) Food Safety News said warning letters often are not made public until weeks or months after they are sent, and that business owners have 15 days to respond. The publication also said letters are often issued only after companies have already had months or years to correct problems. (fda.gov) ### Where can readers track the next step? The FDA warning-letter database listed FSVP letters among postings dated July 21, 2026, including one to Shang Hao Jia, Inc. with a March 18, 2026 issue date. The agency’s warning-letter page is where readers can monitor whether recipients post responses or whether FDA later adds closeout information. (foodsafetynews.com) (fda.gov)