Toxics Watch Group Continues to Bring Mercury-Tainted Skin Whitening Products Out of the Dark (FDA-Banned Skin Whitening Product with High Mercury Content Claims “No Side-Effects”)
A store attendant prepares the receipt for purchased skin whitening products with high mercury content.
A non-profit watch group on toxic chemicals and wastes today revealed that retailers of contraband mercury-laden skin whitening products in Manila are selling flagrantly, in broad daylight, despite being warned by health authorities not to sell them.
The EcoWaste Coalition made the exposé following
its latest market investigation to check on the trade of mercury-containing
skin lightening cosmetics, which the group has been doing since 2011 to alert
and protect consumers, especially women and girls, against mercury
exposure.
The test buys conducted last week netted 10 brands of imported skin whitening
products without the required cosmetic product notifications from the Food and
Drug Administration (FDA). These products are included in the list
of over 135 skin whitening cosmetics banned by FDA for containing mercury above
the maximum allowable limit of one part per million (ppm).
The products, costing P60 to P250 each, were obtained from stores selling
beauty products and Chinese medicines located at or near well-known bargain
shopping malls in Divisoria and Quiapo.
Mercury in the range of 517 to 25,300 ppm, way above the trace amount limit of 1
ppm, were detected on the samples as per chemical screening using a handheld
X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) device.
“We urge consumers not to fall victim to the deceptive promises of these illegal cosmetic imports such as fairer skin complexion, treatment of acne, and the removal of aging spots, freckles and other skin woes,” said Thony Dizon, Chemical Safety Campaigner, EcoWaste Coalition.
“We urge consumers not to fall victim to the deceptive promises of these illegal cosmetic imports such as fairer skin complexion, treatment of acne, and the removal of aging spots, freckles and other skin woes,” said Thony Dizon, Chemical Safety Campaigner, EcoWaste Coalition.
Dizon cited, as an example, Goree Beauty Cream utterly false claim of “no
side-effects” as indicated on the label although its mercury content was 25,300
times the permissible limit. On the contrary, using this product may
cause serious side-effects, Dizon emphasized. The FDA last October
2017 banned two variants of Goree skin creams from Pakistan due to
their mercury content.
Goree, as written on the label, “not only whitens the
skin, it gives a glossy and pinkish teenage look.” Mercury was not
on the ingredients’ list, and no precautionary warning was provided about the
health effects of mercury exposure.
According to the World Health Organization, users of mercury-containing skin
whitening cosmetics may experience skin discoloration, rashes and scarring and
reduced skin’s resistance to bacterial and fungal infections, while repeated
applications can cause damage to the brain, the nervous system and the kidneys.
Symptoms of mercury poisoning may include change in the ability
to taste, difficulty to concentrate, excessive shyness, weakened hearing and
vision, insomnia, irritability, memory problems, numbness and tingling in
hands, feet or around mouth, and tremors.
To avoid mercury exposure in cosmetics, the EcoWaste
Coalition encouraged Filipinos to take pride in our natural skin complexion. “There is beauty and dignity in our
‘kayumangging kaligatan,’” the group pointed out.
If a fairer skin tone is really desired, the group advised consumers to seek
medical advice from a licensed dermatologist, and to desist from using skin whitening
cosmetics that have not gone through FDA’s quality and safety evaluation and are
not guaranteed free of mercury and other health-damaging substances.
Here is the list of the 10 skin whitening cosmetics and their mercury content
as per XRF screening:
1. Goree Beauty Cream with Lycopene with SPF 30 Avocado
& Aloe Vera, 25,300 ppm
2. Goree Day & Night Whitening Cream Oil Free,
21,800 ppm
3. Feique Herbal Extract Chinese Formula Whitening Anti-Freckle Set,
6,825 ppm
4. Erna Whitening Cream,, 6,626 ppm
5. S’Zitang Yangbaisu, 2,613 ppm
6. Jiachuntang Ban
Gan Jing Qu Ban Shuang, 2,363 ppm
7. Women of Flower Whitening and
Speckle-Removing A and B Series, 2,262 ppm
8. Jiaoli Miraculous Cream, 2,227 ppm9. Jiaoli 7-Day Specific Eliminating Freckle AB Set, 2,132 ppm
10. Collagen Plus Vit E Day & Night Cream, 517 ppm
-end-
http://www.fda.gov.ph/advisories-2/cosmetic-2/472052-fda-advisory-no-2017-289
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