Maharashtra FDA Bans Three Beauty Creams Over Toxic Mercury And Lead Levels
The Maharashtra Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) in Mumbai has issued a public health alert and banned the sale, stocking, and distribution of three beauty creams after laboratory tests revealed they contain toxic levels of mercury and lead. The regulator declared the cosmetic brands Goree, Face Fresh, and Golden Star unsafe for human use.
Specifically, the Government Analyst at the FDA Laboratory in Maharashtra declared Goree Beauty Cream, Face Fresh Gold (Beauty Cream + Beauty Serum), and Golden Star Beauty Cream as "Not of Standard Quality" (NSQ). According to the regulator, the excessive presence of toxic heavy metals poses a direct risk to public health.
In addition to the heavy metal contamination, the FDA found that these products did not comply with basic packaging and labelling requirements. The packaging failed to mention the name and address of the manufacturer. Furthermore, mandatory information such as the batch number, manufacturing date, and expiry date was missing, which raised additional concerns regarding the authenticity and safety of the cosmetics.
Following these findings, the FDA ordered an immediate ban on the sale, stocking, display, and distribution of these three products across the state. The directive applies to all retailers, wholesalers, distributors, and e-commerce platforms, who must discontinue sales immediately.
Stockists and distributors have been instructed to report their available stock to the FDA. They must also initiate an immediate market recall of the products and submit the details of the recalled quantities to their concerned local FDA office without delay.
The FDA has strongly urged consumers to immediately stop purchasing and using these cosmetic products. The regulator advised the public to only buy cosmetics from authorised sources and to carefully check for complete packaging details, including the manufacturer’s name, batch number, and dates of manufacture and expiry.
Citizens who spot the sale or availability of these banned beauty creams can report them to the Maharashtra FDA. Reports can be made through the toll-free helpline at 1800-222-365 or via email at [email protected].
