Colours the US doesn't allow
E104, E122, E124, E131, E142, E151, and vegetable carbon (E153) in black licorice.
21 CFR 73 · 74FDA import readiness for European food
Check European products before FDA does.
For US importers, distributors and retailers buying food and candy from Europe. We screen every product for the colours, ingredients and label errors that get shipments held, and tell you what to fix or drop.
Exporting from Europe? We work with EU brands too. · Technical screening, not legal advice.
The risk
When FDA stops a shipment, the importer pays
And the best-before date keeps running the whole time.
Held
FDA flags the entry. Your goods wait in a warehouse and storage fees start.
Detained
You get about 10 business days to prove the product complies.
Paper chase
You chase specs and colour certificates from a supplier in Europe, often with a lawyer.
Relabel, maybe
Label errors can be fixed under FDA supervision, at your cost. Banned colours can't.
Refused
Goods are shipped back or destroyed within 90 days. FDA publishes the refusal.
Then the next shipment. Problems like these can put a product on an FDA import alert, and every later shipment is held automatically.
Check my productsWhat we find
Legal in Europe is not legal in the US
Colours allowed in other foods only
Copper chlorophyllin (E141) is for drink mixes, not candy. Grape skin extract is for beverages.
21 CFR 73.125 · 73.170Labels written for the EU
E-numbers, EU allergen format, a per-100 g nutrition table and grams only.
21 CFR 101Missing supplier documents
No spec sheet, colour certificate or allergen statement when FDA asks.
FSVP · 21 CFR 1 subpart LHow it works
From product list to fix list
Send the product list
With label photos and spec sheets. Missing documents? We draft the requests to your supplier.
We screen every product
Ingredients, colours and labels against US rules and use limits.
You get a verdict
Clear, relabel or exclude for each product, with the reason.
You order with confidence
Relabel, drop the product, or ask the supplier for a US version.
EXAMPLE REPORT · fictional products
1 clear
2 relabel
1 exclude
| Product | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Salt licorice diamonds, 1 kg | Exclude | Coloured with vegetable carbon (E153). Not a permitted US colour. |
| Sour fruit hearts, 80 g | Relabel | Colours listed as E-numbers. Net weight missing in ounces. |
| Milk chocolate buttons, 150 g | Relabel | Wheat declared only as “gluten”. |
| Marshmallow bananas, 200 g | Clear | No ingredient or colour issues. Needs a US label. |
Pricing
A fixed fee per product range
Agreed before we start. Compare it with one pallet you can't sell.
Screen
Can it ship at all?
$1,500€1,350
Up to 10 products
- Ingredient and colour screen
- Verdict per product
- Supplier document requests
Range audit
Before your first US order.
$2,800€2,500
Up to 25 products
- Everything in Screen
- Full label review
- Nutrition Facts conversion
- State law flags
Launch ready
Ready for US shelves.
$4,000€3,500
Up to 40 products
- Everything in Range audit
- US label text per product
- One re-check after changes
Larger ranges are quoted separately.
Exporting from Europe?
Same audit, from your side. We check your range before your US importer does, so your first order ships clean.
FAQ
Common questions
Is this legal advice?
No. We screen products against published US rules and report what we find. We are not a law firm. If something needs a legal opinion, we say so.
Can you get products FDA approved?
Nobody can. FDA does not pre-approve food labels or ordinary food products. It checks them at the border. We find the problems before that.
Who is responsible for what?
The importer handles FSVP and prior notice. The factory needs an FDA registration. The brand owner owns the label. We show you where the gaps are.
A shipment is already held. Can you help?
Yes. We pull together supplier documents and a fix list fast. The response to FDA goes through you or your customs broker.
Which suppliers do you cover?
Food and candy from anywhere in Europe. Our deepest experience is confectionery and snacks.
Get a quote
Tell us what you want to import
We reply with a fixed price and the documents we need.
Or email hello@westboundexport.com