FDA warns against 10 cosmetic products tainted with ammoniated mercury

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a public health warning against at least 10 cosmetic products found to have been tainted with ammoniated mercury and other harmful chemicals.

An FDA advisory issued on June 3, 2019, listed the following products under the ASEAN Post-Marketing Alert System:

• B Plus Miracle Gold Cream

• Madame Organic Whitening Arbutin

• Herbal Turmeric Herbal Cream

• Melusma Melasma Brightening Cream

• Beuty 3 Night Cream

• BeQuala Beauty Quality Lab

• Ozzy Mask

• Polla Gold Super White Perfects

• O-Ping Wink Winner Ping Whitening Cream

• Myrina Night Cream

After post-marketing surveillance by the Cosmetic Control Group of the FDA Thailand, laboratory analyses showed that the products did not comply with ASEAN cosmetic directives as they contain ingredients not allowed to be part of a cosmetic product.

“Mercury is a naturally occurring heavy metal which is known to be severely hazardous to health even in small amounts,” the advisory read.

Citing data from the WHO, the FDA said the main adverse effect of exposure to inorganic mercury is kidney damage, while it may also cause skin rashes, skin discoloration, and scarring.

Exposed pregnant women and nursing mothers may also transfer the mercury to their fetuses, which may later result in neurodevelopmental deficits in the children.

“Because of the hazards posed by the aforementioned products, the public is strongly advised to be vigilant and report to FDA ... any encounter with these products,” said the FDA.

Apart from mercury, the FDA noted the following ingredients were found in the cosmetic products: Hydroquinone, Betamethasone 17-valerate, and Clobetasol propionate, which are not allowed to be part of cosmetic products as they are classified as drugs in the Philippines.

“Such  adverse effects linked with Hydroquinone use are sensitivity to light, skin redness, and permanent skin discoloration,” the FDA said.

“Prolonged use of topical corticosteroids such as Betamethasone 17-valerate and Clobetasol propionate may cause skin atrophy, contact dermatitis, hyperpigmentation, photosensitization, hypertrichosis (hirsutism), and aggravation of cutaneous infection, among others,” it added.

Because of the hazards posed by the cosmetic products, FDA is calling on the public to be vigilant and report any encounter with the products.

Reports may be forwarded to the FDA through email at report@fda.gov.ph, or via (02)857-1900 local 8107 or 8113, or its online reporting facility eReport at www2.fda.gov.ph/ereport. —Jon Viktor Cabuenas/VDS, GMA News