The EcoWaste Coalition has warned that a skin-whitening cream made in Thailand and sold online in the Philippines contains mercury levels that exceed legal safety limits.
The ASEAN Cosmetic Directive reported that the product Meyyong Ra (Seaweed) Extra Whitening & Facelift included up to 2,447 parts per million (ppm) of mercury, which is supposedly more than 2,400 times the permissible limit of 1 ppm.
Sold for as low as ₱150, the cream is marketed as an “advanced super revitalizer cream whitening formula and facelift.”
The Coalition said in a statement that the Mercury is highly toxic, with no safe level of exposure. It emphasized that mercury can cause kidney damage, skin rashes, discoloration, anxiety, depression, and other serious health issues.
Children and pregnant women are especially at risk since exposure to mercury can affect a child’s development.
Skin lightening products contain mercury, which is bad for both people and the earth. The EcoWaste Coalition said that the harmful substance gets into sewer systems when it rains and can change into methylmercury, a form that harms fish and the food chain.
“Pregnant women consuming fish with methylmercury can unknowingly expose their unborn children, leading to neurodevelopmental issues,” the group warned.
Using a handheld X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) analyzer, EcoWaste Coalition detected the excessive mercury content in the product’s green moisturizer cream. Manufactured in 2023, the cream is being sold without the required certificate of product notification.
The coalition noted that the product is linked to the Meyyong Ra (Seaweed) Super Whitening Set, which was banned by the FDA on December 19, 2024, for failing to meet regulatory requirements.
The EcoWaste Coalition urged consumers to avoid unauthorized skin-lightening products, emphasizing that natural skin tones are beautiful and do not need altering.
“To protect human health and the environment, we must stop using chemical whiteners, especially those with hazardous ingredients like mercury,” the group said.
The group plans to formally notify the FDA of its findings and request enforcement actions to remove the product from online platforms.
As Zero Waste Month continues, the EcoWaste Coalition reiterates its call for safer, more sustainable consumer practices to protect public health and the environment.
