January 21, 2019: The Ghanaian Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has issued a public safety alert for cosmetic products with undeclared steroids, hydroquinone and mercury. The agency is warning the public about the potential health hazards associated with the use of these cosmetic products. Investigations by the agency revealed that these cosmetic products on the market contain harmful substances which are not declared on the product labels.
The agency has directed the companies whose products contain these substances (mercury, hydroquinone and steroids) to initiate an immediate recall of the affected products from the market. It stated that these substances are not permitted in cosmetic products due to their potential for severe adverse reactions, especially with prolonged use. Some of the adverse effects associated with these noxious substances include:
- Permanent neurological damage in children (prenatal and neonatal) exposed to mercury during pregnancy and/or lactation
- Kidney toxicity
- Fertility problems
- Birth defects
- Gastrointestinal toxicity
- Liver toxicity
- Skin infections
- Skin cancer
- Hyperpigmentation/Ochronosis
The FDA is advising the general public:
- Not to purchase any of these cosmetic products as indicated
- Immediately discontinue the use and return all such products to the retail shops from where they were purchased or to the FDA
- Report to the FDA any adverse effects arising from the use of any cosmetic product through the FDA’s Safety Monitoring System
The list of companies and products that contain the substances that are not permitted in cosmetic products are:
DIMD Limited
- Perfect White Beauty Lotion (Clobetasol, Hydroquinone)
- Day By Day Men Perfect Body Lotion (Betamethasone)
Banare Limited
- Ahoofe Foundation Body Cream (Mercury, Hydroquinone)
France Mod Limited
- Fair & White So White Skin Perfecter Brightening and Moisturizing Body Milk (Hydroquinone)
IVO Ghana Limited
- Zoe Peau Sublime Beauty Lotion (BN:AF50.04000002.09:15) (Mercury, Betamethasone, Hydroquinone)
- Zoe Peau Sublime Beauty Lotion (BN: not stated) (Mercury, Betamethasone, Hydroquinone)
- Body Clear Lightening Lotion (BN: not stated) (Mercury, Hydroquinone)
- Zoe Peau Sublime Face Corrective Cream (BN: not stated) (Mercury, Clobetasol, Betamethasone)
- Body Fashion Body Milk (BN: not stated) (Mercury, Hydroquinone)
- HT7 Hyprogel Body Lotion (BN: not stated) (Betamethasone)
- Beauty Clinic Whitening Lotion (BN: AF51.0500 0001) (Mercury, Hydroquinone)
Magic Dodo Ltd
- Dodo Beauty Lightening Lotion (BN: 006114) (Mercury, Hydroquinone)
- Marie France Skin Care (BN: 006045) (Mercury, Betamethasone, Hydroquinone)
Nouvelle Parfumrie Gandour Ghana Limited
- Tiatio Concentrated Serum (Betamethasone, Clobetasol, Hydroquinone)
- Bravia Unifying Body Cream (BN: 1006618) (Hydroquinone)
- Bronze Tone Cocoa Butter and Honey Extracts (Hydroquinone)
- Passionella Complexion Unifying Serum (Hydroquinone)
- Passionella Brightening Cream (BN:241540) (Hydroquinone)
- Fluo Pommade a Huile de Ricin (Betamethasone)
- Bravia Lotion (Mercury, Clobetasol, Hydroquinone)
- Doctoress Creme (Clobetasol)
- Pure Skin Vanishing Care Body Cream (Clobetasol, Hydroquinone)
- Senophine Creme (Clobetasol)
- Abana Facial Creme (Mercury, Clobetasol, Hydroquinone)
- Bronze Tone Maxi Tone Cocoa Butter & Honey Extract Lotion (Hydroquinone)
- Maxilight Lightening & Purifying Body Lotion (Clobetasol, Hydroquinone)
- G&G Body Cream (Mercury, Clobetasol, Hydroquinone)
Paradise Cosmetics Limited
- Bioskin Lightening Body Lotion (BN: 750) (Hydroquinone, Clobetasol)
- Bioskin Lightening Body Lotion (BN: 847) (Clobetasol, Hydroquinone)
- Clair-Liss Genial Lightening Body Cream (BN: B9834) (Clobetasol, Hydroquinone)
- Clair-Liss Genial Lightening Body Cream (9816) (Clobetasol, Hydroquinone)
- Sivoclair Lightening Body Lotion (BN-3560) (Clobetasol, Hydroquinone)
- Goldskin Clarifying Body Lotion with Argan Oil (BN: 740) (Clobetasol, Hydroquinone)
- Goldskin Fast Action Cream with Argan Oil (BN: G07025) (Clobetasol)
- Peau Claire Lightening Body Cream (BN: 3926) (Clobetasol, Hydroquinone)
- Biocarrot Lightening Body Lotion (BN: 167) (Clobetasol, Hydroquinone)
Stopover JRA Enterprise
- RA Foundation Body Cream (Mercury, Hydroquinone)
Universal Basic Company Limited
- Tendrina Special Hand and Body Complexion Lotion (BN: 139) (Betamethasone)
- Tendrina Complexion Cream (BN: CT 4003) (Betamethasone)
- Tendrina Hand and Body Complexion Lotion (BN: not legible) (Betamethasone)
- TC 35 Clear Complexion Milk (BN: 14352) (Betamethasone)
Source: Ghana Food and Drugs Authority (FDA). Press Release; 2019 Jan 21. Available here: https://fdaghana.gov.gh/images/stories/pdfs/Press%20release/PRESS%20RELEASE%202.pdf