Mercury, a toxic ingredient, has been banned in the US since 1973 (in products with levels higher than 1ppm). Unfortunately inorganic mercury compounds are still being used in skin lightening soaps and creams originating from products imported from outside of the US. For this reason, we have added mercury and mercury ingredient permutations to our unsafe database. This includes the following:
- mercurous chloride
- calomel
- mercuric
- mercurio
Some imported skin-lightening products that contain these ingredients are:
- G&G Super White Cream
- Acura Strong Bleaching Face Cream
- Mekako Skin Lightening Cream
- Top Gel MCA Extra Pearl Cream
- Diana Stalder Lightening Soap
(list of products provided by ChatGPT, and has not been humanly verified)
Mercury is a potent neurotoxin that can cause a range of health problems, including kidney damage, memory loss, tremors, and developmental delays in children. Exposure to mercury can occur through inhalation of mercury vapors or ingestion of contaminated food or water.
The use of mercury in skin lightening products is particularly concerning because the skin is the largest organ of the body and can absorb chemicals directly into the bloodstream. In addition, skin lightening products are often used for extended periods of time, increasing the risk of exposure to mercury and its harmful effects.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has also recognized the dangers of using mercury in skin lightening products and has called for a ban on the use of mercury in cosmetic products. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has also identified the elimination of mercury in products as a priority area of action.
Consumers can protect themselves by avoiding skin lightening products that contain mercury and checking ingredient labels carefully. In addition, regulatory authorities should take action to ensure that these products are not sold in their respective countries.
In conclusion, the inclusion of mercury and its permutations in our unsafe ingredient database is an important step in protecting consumers from the harmful effects of this toxic ingredient. It is important that consumers, regulatory authorities, and manufacturers work together to eliminate the use of mercury in cosmetic products and promote safer alternatives.
Fevi became an advocate for food is medicine when her dog, Junior, was diagnosed with cancer. In that journey, she discovered how food played such an important role, first in animal health and then eventually, her own health. When she became a Mom, it reinforced the importance of healthy, natural and fresh food. She is a researcher, by profession, and her skills have helped in intimately understanding how the food industry has prioritized profits over health. As the Founder of Source Partners, she hopes to support the next evolution (perhaps, revolution) of the food industry.