Banned creams, hiding online from India to the world
More than two dozen skin-lightening creams containing mercury are still being sold online on major e-commerce platforms, despite global efforts to ban them, according to a Reuters investigation. Mercury, a toxic substance, can cause severe health issues including kidney and brain damage. Despite the Minamata Convention banning mercury-containing products since 2013, these products continue to be available on Amazon, Temu, and TikTok Shop marketplaces in several countries, including the United States, France, India, the United Arab Emirates, and Belgium.
The products are often renamed or resold by different sellers to evade detection. Health advocates and regulators have struggled to enforce bans due to the popularity of skin-lightening products in Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean, where they can lighten skin within days compared to legal alternatives. Mercury is also relatively cheap, making these products appealing.
Despite acknowledging the concern, Amazon, TikTok, and Temu stated they prohibit the sale of such products and are taking steps to remove them.
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