THE U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has flagged several popular Philippine condiments, including sweet spaghetti sauces and lechon sauces, due to “harmful food additives.” This move has created supply concerns in Guam, where many residents rely on these products for traditional cooking.
Distributors and restaurant owners reported on Monday that affected products include Jufran Banana Sauce, UFC Sweet Filipino Style Spaghetti Sauce, and Mang Tomas All Purpose Sauce—well-loved Filipino brands now barred from entering Guam.
According to the FDA’s Import Alert (99-45) issued on October 25, 2024, ingredients such as BHA and potassium iodate are classified as “harmful food additives.” While this does not constitute an outright ban, it means these items will face border holds for further review.
“When clients ask for these specific products, we have to inform them we can no longer import them,” said Jay Agabao, manager of Sky Guam Distributors Inc., in an interview with the Pacific Daily News. Sky Guam, a family-owned company, distributes food and non-food items from the Philippines, U.S., Taiwan, and Indonesia.
Despite customer concerns, Agabao emphasized the need to comply with FDA regulations. “As distributors, and I’m sure others would agree, we have to follow the rules of governing agencies that apply here,” he said.
Agabao, who is Filipino, noted the challenges of sourcing certain food items on Guam, a territory heavily dependent on imported goods. “Guam is not a productive economy—we don’t have major industries manufacturing specific food products. Almost everything, from the U.S. to Asia to the Philippines, is imported,” he explained.
He added that Guam’s reliance on imports highlights the need for regulatory changes to accommodate essential food items.
The following products are no longer available for import under the FDA alert:
*Kare Kare Stew Mix
*Mother’s Best Hot All Purpose Sauce (Sarsa Lechon Sauce)
*Andok’s Litson Sauce (All Purpose Sauce)
*UFC Sweet Chili Sauce
*UFC Sweet Filipino Style Spaghetti Sauce
*UFC Banana Sauce Regular
*UFC Banana Sauce (Hot)
*Mang Tomas All Purpose Sauce Regular
*Mang Tomas All Purpose Sauce Hot & Spicy
*Jufran Sweet Chili Sauce
*Jufran Banana Sauce Hot & Spicy
*Jufran Banana Sauce (Hot)
For more information, see the FDA alert: accessdata.fda.gov/cms_ia/importalert_1173.html.