The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued another warning to the public after it discovered the proliferation of unregistered skin whitening products that have toxic levels of mercury in it, according to the Philippine Star.
“FDA acting director Dr. Kenneth Hartigan-Go said 11 of the products were found to contain mercury beyond the level allowed by the agency and as prescribed in the ASEAN Cosmetic Directives,” the report said.
The following are the products under the FDA watch:
- Angel Placenta whitening cream (Tender Skin & Whitening)
- Erna whitening cream
- Gemli beauty series freckles cream plus placenta extract
- Jiaoli Huichunsu specific eliminating freckle cream
- Jiaoli speckle dispelling and whitening cream
- LMSER whitening cream
- Sanli eliminating freckle cream plus complex vitamin C and E
- Top Shirley nourishing cream
- White Magnolia intensive repair essence and powerful spot remover
- Zhjren whitening ruddy combination suit
- Zhjren 7 Day beauty elegant moisturizing and whitening day cream
The official said high levels of mercury in the products can cause kidney damage, skin rashes, discoloration and scarring, among other health effects.
