MUMBAI: The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a health alert against three skin-lightening creams, including one allegedly manufactured in Pakistan, after laboratory tests found they contained mercury and lead far above the permissible limits, making them unsafe for use.An FDA release, issued on Saturday evening, ordered an immediate stop to the use, sale and distribution of these three creams.One of the products, Goree Beauty Cream, is reportedly of Pakistani origin. A few days ago, Mumbai police registered a criminal case against a Chembur shopkeeper for allegedly stocking and selling Goree cream despite the Centre’s ban on imports from Pakistan.The other two products declared “Not of Standard Quality (NSQ)” are Face Fresh Gold (Beauty Cream & Beauty Serum) and Golden Star Beauty Cream.Tests conducted at FDA’s laboratory found excessive levels of the toxic heavy metals, which can damage the skin, kidneys and nervous system with prolonged exposure.The FDA release said that these products didn’t have the mandatory labelling details, including the manufacturer’s name and address, batch number, manufacturing date and expiry date, in violation of cosmetic regulations.The FDA has advised consumers to stop using or purchasing the products immediately. Retailers, wholesalers, distributors and e-commerce platforms have been directed to halt their sale, stocking and distribution, while stockists have been asked to recall available stocks and report the quantity recovered to the nearest FDA office.The alert comes amid an intensified statewide crackdown on substandard medicines and cosmetics. FDA commissioner Tukaram Munde on Saturday said the department raided 34 manufacturing units in June, seizing illegal drugs, medical products and cosmetics worth Rs 4.12 crore. Of these, products worth Rs 2.86 crore were seized, while the sale of products worth Rs 1.26 crore was prohibited.In June, FDA laboratories tested 787 samples of drugs, cosmetics and medical products. While 752 met quality standards, 35 were declared NSQ. These included sunscreens, kumkum, syrups, tablets, creams, shampoos and injections that failed tests for microbial contamination, potency, dissolution, sterility or labelling. Nine FIRs were registered and two persons were arrested.
