Duoc Thao Tre Xanh, LLC
FDA issued a warning letter to Duoc Thao Tre Xanh, LLC (Tampa, FL, United States) on Mar 16, 2021, citing 21 CFR 201.5. Subject: New Drug, Misbranded.
From the letter: “The claims on your website establish that the products are drugs under section 201 (g)(1)(B) of the Food, Drug, Cosmetic Act (the Act), [21 U.S.C 321(g)(1)(B)] because they are intended for the use in the cure, mitigation, treatment, or…”
At a glance
What a reviewer notes before reading: findings, citations, the response deadline and what the letter warns of.
- Violations
- 2 findings · 1 issue type
- Cited
- 21 CFR 201.5
- Response due
- Fifteen (15) working days of receipt
- FDA asks for
- 5 actions
- Named as possible actions
- Seizure, injunction
- Issued by
- Division of Human and Animal Food Operations East IV · Office of Inspections and Investigations
- Published status
- No close-out recorded
AI assisted findings
Model-assisted reading of each issue. Open one to see the FDA text it comes from, and check it against the full letter.
01Labeling, claims & marketingProducts are unapproved new drugs because they are intended to cure, mitigate, treat, or prevent disease.
The claims on your website establish that the products are drugs under section 201 (g)(1)(B) of the Food, Drug, Cosmetic Act (the Act), [21 U.S.C 321(g)(1)(B)] because they are intended for the use in the cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease.
02Labeling, claims & marketing · 21 CFR 201.5Products are misbranded because they lack adequate directions for use by a layperson.
Your products Immune Health, Ganoderma Lucidum Red Reishi Mushroom, Papaya Leaf Extract and Fucoidan are intended for treatment of one or more diseases that are not amenable to self-diagnosis or treatment without the supervision of a licensed practitioner. Therefore, it is impossible to write adequate directions for a layperson to use your products safely for their intended purposes. Accordingly, Immune Health, Ganoderma Lucidum Red Reishi Mushroom, Papaya Leaf Extract and Fucoidan fail to bear adequate directions for their intended use and, therefore, the product is misbranded under section 502(f)(1) of the Act [21 U.S.C. § 352(f)(1)].
What FDA requested
- Review your websites, product labels, and other labeling and promotional materials to ensure that you are not misleadingly representing your products as safe and effective for a COVID-19-related use or other medical diseases for which they have not been approved by FDA and that you do not make claims that misbrand the products in violation of the FD&C Act.
- Notify this office in writing of the specific steps you have taken to correct violations.
- Include an explanation of each step being taken to prevent the recurrence of violations, as well as copies of related documentation.
- If you believe that your products are not in violation of the FD&C Act, include your reasoning and any supporting information for our consideration.
- If you cannot complete corrective action within fifteen working days, state the reason for the delay and the time within which you will complete the correction.
FDA Warning Letter
35 paragraphs · 2 sectionsText as published on FDA.gov, retrieved Oct 28, 2026. Layout added for reading; the wording is FDA’s. View on FDA.gov (opens in a new tab)
1WARNING LETTER
2 paragraphs
21-HAFE4-WL-02 / CMS No. 611685 Dear Mr. Huynh:
This is to advise you that from October to December 2020, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reviewed your website at https://www.duocthaotrexanh.com and has determined that you take orders there for the products Immune Health, Ganoderma Lucidum Red Reishi Mushroom, Papaya Leaf Extract and Fucoidan. The claims on your website establish that the products are drugs under section 201 (g)(1)(B) of the Food, Drug, Cosmetic Act (the Act), [21 U.S.C 321(g)(1)(B)] because they are intended for the use in the cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease. As explained further below, introducing or delivering these products into interstate commerce for such uses violates the Act. You may find the Act and FDA regulations through links in FDA's homepage at www.fda.gov.
2New and Misbranded Drugs
27 paragraphs
Examples of some of the website claims that provide evidence that your products are intended for use as drugs include:
On your website www.duocthaotrexanh.com : Ganoderma Lucidum, Red Reishi Mushroom product:
“THE WONDER MUSHROOM THAT CURES MANY DISEASES AT ONCE”
“Over 2,000 years of study, Lucid Ganoderma as a dietary supplement, is proven to be effective in treating many diseases including: High blood pressure…Diabetes…Asthma…Hypertension…Alzeiheimer’s [sic] disease…Chronic fatigue syndromes…Insomnia…Leukemia (Increase white blood cell)…Hepatitis A, B, C…Cancer treatment…Fight HIV infection..Depress [sic], Neurosis diseases…Anti-tumor…”
Papaya Leaf Extract High Potency product:
“Research shows that papaya leaf in exact [sic] form is a powerful prevention and treatment of cancer. It can kill viral-infected cells and cancerous cells tumor cells from various cancers including cervix, breast, liver, lung, and pacreatic [sic] while aiding the cardiovascular and gastrointestinal systems. Other healing properties papayas provide are: Increases platelet count…alleviates inflammation. An alternative treatment for skin wounds that don’t heal quickly…Lowers risk of emphysema in smokers and passive smokers thanks to high vitamin D content…”
“[A]nti-cancer/anti-tumor activities…”
Fucoidan product:
“New Frontier in Cancer Treatment”
“Fucoidan is a powerful anticancerous supplement from the Sea.”
“Fucoidan…triggers the natural immune system to attack and kill cancer cells.”
“Fucoidan suppresses the generation of new blood vessels around cancer cells, cutting off their nutrient supply. This also prevents the cancer cells from spreading.”
“Fucoidan provides an anticancer effect by way of inducing apoptosis.”
“Fucoidan reduces side effects of chemotherapy and radiation.”
In addition, the FDA has observed that your website offers “Immune Health” for sale in the United States, which is intended to mitigate, prevent, treat, diagnose, or cure COVID-19 in people.
There is currently a global outbreak of respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus that has been named “severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2” (SARS-CoV-2). The disease caused by the virus has been named “Coronavirus Disease 2019” (COVID-19)1. On January 31, 2020, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a declaration of a public health emergency related to COVID-19 and mobilized the Operating Divisions of HHS2. In addition, on March 13, 2020, the President declared a national emergency in response to COVID-193.
Therefore, FDA is taking urgent measures to protect consumers from certain products that, without approval or authorization by FDA, claim to mitigate, prevent, treat, diagnose, or cure COVID-19 in people. As described below, you sell a product that is intended to mitigate, prevent, treat, diagnose, or cure COVID-19 in people. We request that you take immediate action to cease the sale of such unapproved and unauthorized products for the mitigation, prevention, treatment, diagnosis, or cure of COVID-19.
The claims on your website www.duocthaotrexanh.com , that establish the intended use of your product and misleadingly represent them as safe and/or effective for the treatment or prevention of COVID-19 include:
Immune Health product:
“COVID-19 Influenza”
“Helps Boost Your Immune System Against: Coronavirus…Influenza…Bronchitis…Dyspnea…Common Cold”
Your products are not generally recognized as safe and effective for the above referenced use and, therefore, the product is “new drug” under section 201(p) of the Act [21 U.S.C. § 321(p)]. With certain exceptions not applicable here, new drugs may not be legally introduced or delivered for introduction into interstate commerce without prior approval from FDA, as described in sections 301(d) and 505(a) of the Act [21 U.S.C. §§ 331(d), 355(a)]. FDA approves a new drug on the basis of scientific data and information demonstrating that the drug is safe and effective.
A drug is misbranded under section 502(f)(1) of the Act [21 U.S.C. § 352(f)(1)] if the drug fails to bear adequate directions for its intended use(s). “Adequate directions for use” means directions under which a layperson can use a drug safely and for the purposes for which it is intended (21 CFR 201.5). Prescription drugs, as defined in section 503(b)(1)(A) of the Act [21 U.S.C. § 353(b)(1)(A)], can only be used safely at the direction, and under the supervision, of a licensed practitioner.
Your products Immune Health, Ganoderma Lucidum Red Reishi Mushroom, Papaya Leaf Extract and Fucoidan are intended for treatment of one or more diseases that are not amenable to self-diagnosis or treatment without the supervision of a licensed practitioner. Therefore, it is impossible to write adequate directions for a layperson to use your products safely for their intended purposes. Accordingly, Immune Health, Ganoderma Lucidum Red Reishi Mushroom, Papaya Leaf Extract and Fucoidan fail to bear adequate directions for their intended use and, therefore, the product is misbranded under section 502(f)(1) of the Act [21 U.S.C. § 352(f)(1)]. The introduction or delivery for introduction into interstate commerce of these misbranded drugs violates section 301(a) of the Act [21 U.S.C. § 331(a)].
The violations cited in this letter are not intended to be an all-inclusive list of violations that exist in connection with your marketed products. You are responsible for investigating and determining the causes of the violations identified above and for preventing their recurrence or occurrence of other violations. It is your responsibility to ensure that your firm complies with all requirements of federal law and FDA regulations. We advise you to review your websites, product labels, and other labeling and promotional materials to ensure that you are not misleadingly representing your products as safe and effective for a COVID-19-related use or other medical diseases for which they have not been approved by FDA and that you do not make claims that misbrand the products in violation of the FD&C Act.
You should take prompt action to correct the violations cited in this letter. Failure to promptly correct these violations may result in legal action without further notice, including, without limitation, injunction or seizure.
Within fifteen (15) working days of receipt of this letter, please notify this office in writing of the specific steps you have taken to correct violations. Include an explanation of each step being taken to prevent the recurrence of violations, as well as copies of related documentation. If you believe that your products are not in violation of the FD&C Act, include your reasoning and any supporting information for our consideration. If you cannot complete corrective action within fifteen working days, state the reason for the delay and the time within which you will complete the correction. Your reply should be directed to Mr. Ramon Hernandez, District Director/Program Division Director, Food and Drug Administration, 466 Fernández Juncos Avenue, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00901-3223. If you have any questions regarding this letter, please contact LCDR Laura Kennedy, Compliance Officer, at (813) 915-7948 or Laura.Kennedy@fda.hhs.gov.
Citations and trends
Each 21 CFR section, ISO 13485 clause and issue type in this letter, how often it appears across all letters, and its trend by the year FDA issued the letters. 2026 runs to Nov 3, 2026, compared with the same dates last year. Select a row or a bar to see those letters in Letters. As cited in this historical letter, not a statement of current requirements.
Regulations
Issue types
Record details
- Issuing center
- Office of Inspections and Investigations
- Issuing office
- Division of Human and Animal Food Operations East IV
- Location
- Tampa, FL, United States
- Letter posted date
- Mar 30, 2021
- Letter issue date
- Mar 16, 2021
- Addressed to
- Registered Agent
- Inspection dates · model-assisted
- Oct 1, 2020 to Dec 31, 2020
- Response window
- 15 working days after receipt of this letter
Read the source clause
Within fifteen (15) working days of receipt of this letter, please notify this office in writing of the specific steps you have taken to correct violations.
- Record length
- 1,350 words · 2 recorded redactions
- Published status
- No published close-out
- Original letter
- View on FDA.gov (opens in a new tab)
- Dataset last checked
- Nov 11, 2026 · How this is built
A response window is not a calculated due date. Source excerpts are selected passages. Finding interpretations and categories are model-assisted. Verify the original letter before relying on a finding.