Mixed with mercury, sugar and water and free of active ingredients

The Ministry of Health warns of 12 toxic cosmetics

Some prohibited products of unknown origin. Photograph: Patrick Castillo

The Ministry of Health issued a list of 12 adulterated herbal and chemical cosmetic products that contain dangerous and toxic substances, which are used to whiten the body, lighten the skin color, plump up the cheeks, and enlarge the chest and buttocks.

The list, which "Emirates Today" obtained a copy of, indicates that some of these products are mixed with toxic mercury, including products that are free of active substances that achieve the medical claim, and some of them are adulterated, or a mixture of sugar and water.

The ministry issued a warning to several government agencies, including the Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority, the Dubai and Abu Dhabi Health Authorities, and the Ministry of Environment and Water, to ban the use of these products.

In detail, last week the Ministry of Health issued a warning about 12 dangerous and adulterated products used for pharmaceutical and cosmetic purposes produced in Arab and Asian countries, such as Morocco, Lebanon and Saudi Arabia, some of which are of unknown origin.

The list warns against the "natural queen's mixture" cream, which is used to whiten the face, as it is adulterated with toxic mercury, and contains a chemical substance, in violation of the claim that it is natural herbs.

She also warned against the “Al-Massa” cream, which is used to whiten the face, as it is adulterated with a chemical, and the “Bride” cream produced by a Lebanese company, which claims to be natural herbs, but it turned out that it was mixed with a chemical.

The list included a warning about the “Atheer” cream used to whiten and soften the skin, which is of unknown origin, and it was found that it is free from the active substances that verify the medical claim. It turned out to be free of active ingredients, very poorly packaged, and lacked the foundations of good manufacturing.

The list called for caution against Thai-made products, including the "Hip Up" cream, which is promoted as useful for inflating and enlarging the buttocks, although it is free of substances that make this claim, and the same for the "Classic Mode" cream promoted as achieving enlargement and puffing. The chest, which is free of active substances.

The Ministry of Health stated that the “Queen’s Amber” honey, which it promotes as a honey to fatten the cheeks and face, is nothing but a mixture of burnt sugar and water, not honey, in addition to its very poor packaging, noting that the “Kapoor” cream used to whiten the skin is adulterated. With a chemical, though, it makes a claim to being a natural herbal.

The list included warnings of three other creams, devoid of active substances, which are the “Hanan” cream, which is promoted as fattening the buttocks and thighs, and the “Hanan” cream for breast augmentation, both of which are manufactured by a Saudi company, in addition to the “Norte” cream of unknown origin. To whiten the skin, even though it is devoid of the active substances that achieve the medicinal claim.

A letter to the ministry signed by the Ministry of Health Assistant Undersecretary for Medical Practices and Licensing, Dr. Amin Hussein Al-Amiri, which Emirates Today obtained a copy of, said that the Saudi Food and Drug Authority warned against these fraudulent products, explaining that the warning against these products “comes out of concern for the The health of the citizen and resident in the country, calling for taking measures to ensure that these products are not marketed in the country,” noting that “these products are not registered with the Ministry of Health.”

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