FDA warns vs. unregistered glutathione product sold via FB

The Food and Drug Administration warned the public against an unregistered skin-whitening product being peddled via social networking site Facebook.

In FDA Advisory No. 2014-045, FDA head Kenneth Hartigan-Go identified the product as Luxxe Whitening, Enhanced Glutathione.

"Luxxe Whitening, Enhanced Glutathione is neither registered with the FDA as a drug nor as a food supplement.  Thus, the FDA declares that such advertisement, promotion and sale is an outright violation of the provisions of Republic Act No. 3720 as amended by Republic Act No. 9711 prohibiting the manufacture, importation, exportation, sale, offering for sale, distribution, transfer, non-consumer use, promotion, advertisement of any health product which is not registered with the FDA," he said.

As of Wednesday night, the Facebook page referred to by the FDA was still live.

The FDA said the advertisements claim the product can:

It also said the ads claimed the product is "FDA approved" and "Halal approved" and that it had earned the Global Brands and Top Brands awards.

But Hartigan-Go also indicated Luxxe Whitening, Enhanced Glutathione "carries unacceptable claims as food supplement."

In the meantime, he urged the public to email the FDA for more information at info@fda.gov.ph.

He also urged the public to report unregistered health products or establishments selling unregistered health products via report@fda.gov.ph or at 857-1900 local 1051. — Joel Locsin /LBG,  GMA News