Toxic Mercury Levels Detected In Pakistan-Made Beauty Creams Seized In Maharashtra's Nanded, Raising Serious Health Concerns

An alarming discovery has been made in Nanded, Maharashtra, where toxic heavy metals, including mercury and arsenic, were detected in counterfeit beauty products labeled "Made in Pakistan," according to a government laboratory report. The products, worth Rs 39.69 lakh, were seized during a raid conducted by the Itwara police and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from Afrah Collection in Nanded on July 9.

The laboratory analysis found that the PARLEY 24K Gold Gleam Beauty Cream contained an astonishing 48,453.44 parts per million (PPM) of mercury, nearly 48,453 times the permissible limit of 1 PPM. Similarly, the GOREE Beauty Cream with Lycopene was found to have 6,924.94 PPM of mercury, almost 6,925 times the allowed limit. These findings have raised serious concerns about the potential health hazards posed by these counterfeit cosmetics.

Upon discovering the high mercury levels, the Itwara police registered a case under multiple laws, including the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Drugs and Cosmetics Act, and Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act. The shop operator, Mohammad Ziauddin Mohammad Wajid, a 25-year-old resident of Makkah Galli, was arrested with the beauty products bearing labels claiming Pakistani origin in Urdu and English.

The Nanded police emphasized the potential health risks associated with prolonged exposure to excessive mercury and arsenic through cosmetics, which could lead to severe skin disorders, kidney damage, and neurological complications. They urged consumers to be cautious when purchasing cosmetics and to verify product labels, manufacturing license numbers, and quality certifications before making a purchase.

Citizens were advised to report the sale of counterfeit or suspicious imported products to the nearest police station, the Nanded police control room, or by dialing 112.