FDA recalls 8 whitening products with substance causing uneven skin color

Health authorities on Friday recalled at least eight skin-whitening products containing Rhododenol, which is suspected of causing white blotches and uneven skin color.

In an advisory posted on its website, the Food and Drug Administration said the products involved belong to Kanebo Cosmetics Inc., and had been voluntarily recalled in other Asian markets.

"(T)he Philippine FDA hereby recalls all products that were issued market authorization and to ban other products manufactured by Kanebo that contain Rhododenol, a substance contained in the skin-whitening or brightening products that was developed by Kanebo and have been reported or implicated to cause white blotches and uneven coloring of the skin," it said.

Rhodenol brightens skin by suppressing the production of melanin, the primary determinant of skin color.

FDA noted the skin whitening products concerned were voluntarily recalled by Kanebo Cosmetics Inc., Lissage Ltd. and E’quipe, Ltd. in Japan and from all over Asia, "including Taiwan, Hong Kong, South Korea, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Vietnam," last July 4 (Thursday).

Among the recalled Kanebo products with the different variance are:

1. Kanebo BLANCHIR SUPERIOR