FDA warns vs unregistered products

MANILA, Philippines - Consumers should refrain from buying 71 unregistered cosmetics and wellness products sold locally, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned.

In five advisories, FDA director general Nela Charade Puno said among those products are concealer, soap, baby lotion, sunblock, facial cream, moisturizer, powder, foot deodorizer, hair shampoo, hair conditioner, hair glower, skin whitening soap and moisturizer, vapor rub, hair coloring and mouthwash.

“Potential hazards may come from ingredients that are not allowed to be part of a cosmetic product or from the contamination of heavy metals such as mercury, especially in whitening cosmetic products,” she said.

Puno said adverse reactions to these products may include “skin irritation, itchiness, anaphylactic shock and organ failure.”