FDA refusal charge
FDA refusal charge FALSE
FALSE is the FDA import refusal charge for false or misleading labeling; it cites sections 403(a)(1) and 801(a)(3) of the FD&C Act (misbranding). FDA recorded it on 2,446 refused shipment lines between October 2016 and October 15, 2026, most often for dietary supplements from Mexico.
Data from FDA public records, last checked .
- 2,446
- refused shipment lines carry this charge
- 81
- countries of origin
- 5
- import alerts name this charge
What FALSE means
The labeling appeared to be false or misleading in some particular.
This restates FDA's statement. It says what the charge means, never why a particular shipment was refused.
- FD&C Act section
- 403(a)(1)801(a)(3)
- Classification
- misbranding
FDA's official statement
The article is subject to refusal of admission pursuant to Section 801(a)(3) of the FD&C Act in that it appears to be misbranded within the meaning of Section 403(a)(1 ) of the FD&C Act in that the labeling is false or misleading in any particular.
Import alerts that name FALSE
Countries with the most FALSE refusals
| Country | Lines | Share of FALSE |
|---|---|---|
| Mexico | 655 | 27% |
| India | 263 | 11% |
| Canada | 176 | 7% |
| South Korea | 128 | 5% |
| Portugal | 111 | 5% |
| Philippines | 103 | 4% |
| China | 99 | 4% |
| United Kingdom | 62 | 3% |
| Indonesia | 59 | 2% |
| Switzerland | 57 | 2% |
Product categories with the most FALSE refusals
| Category | Lines | Share of FALSE |
|---|---|---|
| Vitamins, Minerals, Proteins, and Unconventional Dietary Specialties | 509 | 21% |
| Snack Food Items | 239 | 10% |
| Soft Drinks and Waters | 214 | 9% |
| Macaroni and Noodle Products | 191 | 8% |
| Baby (Infant and Junior) Food Products | 174 | 7% |
| Dietary Conventional Foods and Meal Replacements | 163 | 7% |
| Fruit and Fruit Products (pit, subtropical and tropical fruits) | 133 | 5% |
| Multiple Food Dinners, Gravies, Sauces, and Specialties | 120 | 5% |
| Bakery Products, Doughs, Bakery Mixes, and Icings | 89 | 4% |
| Fishery/Seafood Products | 80 | 3% |
Latest FALSE refusals
Questions about FALSE
- What does FALSE mean on an FDA refusal?
- FALSE is the refusal charge “False or misleading labeling”. The labeling appeared to be false or misleading in some particular.
- What law does FALSE cite?
- FDA's refusal charge table cites sections 403(a)(1) and 801(a)(3) of the FD&C Act (misbranding) for FALSE, and classifies the charge as misbranding. The table is the Refusal Charges reference file that FDA publishes with its Data Dashboard.
- Which countries have the most FALSE refusals?
- As of October 25, 2026, the countries with the most FALSE refusal lines are Mexico (655), India (263) and Canada (176). The full list with links is in the table on this page.
- Is there an FDA import alert for FALSE?
- Yes. 5 FDA import alerts name FALSE as a charge code, including Import Alert 99-39 (Imported foods that appear to be misbranded), Import Alert 16-04 (Seafood products that appear to be misbranded), Import Alert 16-50 (Molluscan bivalve shellfish) and Import Alert 40-05 (Adulterated and misbranded infant formula). An import alert is a list of firms; a charge code is the reason recorded on one refused shipment line.
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SupplierRadar is not affiliated with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Data comes from public FDA records and may contain errors. This is not legal advice; importers remain responsible for their supplier evaluations.