Pakistani creams containing 48,000× permissible mercury limit seized in Maharashtra
What's the story
Beauty creams worth nearly ₹40 lakh, seized from a shop in Nanded, Maharashtra, were found to have dangerously high levels of mercury. One product was found to contain over 48,000 times the permissible limit of mercury. The findings come months after the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) flagged Pakistani-origin skin-lightening creams for excessive toxic metals and ordered their sale and distribution to be halted.
Product analysis
PARLEY, GOREE beauty creams most contaminated
The products were seized during a raid at Afrah Collection in Makkah Galli on July 9.
The raid was conducted by Itwara police station and Food and Drug Administration officials.
The seized stock, valued at around ₹39.69 lakh, included PARLEY 24K Gold Gleam Beauty Cream with 48,453.44 parts per million (PPM) of mercury and GOREE Beauty Cream with Lycopene containing 6,924.94 PPM of mercury.
Health concerns
Seizure comes after FDA alert on skin-lightening products
The seizure follows the Maharashtra FDA's alert in July against three skin-lightening products, including Goree Beauty Cream.
The FDA had ordered an immediate stop to their use, sale, and distribution after laboratory tests detected excessive mercury and lead levels.
The other products named were Face Fresh Gold Beauty Cream and Serum and Golden Star Beauty Cream.
Legal proceedings
Prolonged exposure to heavy metals can cause serious health problems
Separately, in September, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) issued a public health alert against Goree Beauty Cream and Chandni Whitening Cream.
The CDSCO warned that these products were unauthorized for sale in India.
Prolonged exposure to excessive mercury and other toxic heavy metals through cosmetics can cause serious health problems, including skin disorders, kidney damage, and neurological complications.
Under Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, mercury is only allowed up to 1PPM in all cosmetics except for eye shadows.