Maharashtra Bans Three Skin-Lightening Creams Over Mercury Levels 752 Times Above Legal Limit
The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a health alert against three skin-lightening creams after laboratory tests found dangerously high levels of mercury and lead. The products—Goree Beauty Cream, Face Fresh Gold (Beauty Cream and Beauty Serum), and Golden Star Beauty Cream—have been declared 'Not of Standard Quality' (NSQ). One of these, Goree Beauty Cream, is reportedly manufactured in Pakistan.
The FDA warned that prolonged use of these creams could damage the kidneys, nervous system, and skin. Despite the alert, the creams remain available for purchase on several online platforms, including Meesho.
The issue gained public attention after entrepreneur Chirag Barjatya posted on social media platform X, highlighting cases from Nagpur where 18 women who developed kidney problems over two years had all been using Goree Beauty Cream. According to Barjatya, the cream was being sold through Instagram pages and online marketplaces. He claimed that FDA testing found mercury levels 752 times above the legal limit.
Mercury is used illegally in some skin-lightening products because it suppresses melanin production, leading to lighter skin within days. However, this effect is the result of chemical damage, and the toxic metal is absorbed through the skin, accumulating in the kidneys over time. Health experts urge people to check if family members, friends, or domestic workers are using such creams and to dispose of them immediately if found.
Maharashtra's action follows several international bans on Goree-branded products. In 2021, New Zealand's medicines regulator Medsafe advised consumers to stop using Goree Beauty Cream with Lycopene after finding mercury and lead. In 2025, the Philippines FDA issued a public health advisory against Goree Beauty Kit products, citing lack of regulatory approval and safety concerns.
The FDA also found that the products violated cosmetic regulations by lacking mandatory labelling details such as manufacturer name and address, batch number, manufacturing date, and expiry date.
The regulatory action comes amid growing medical concern over mercury-containing skin-lightening creams. Unregulated products often illegally add heavy metals like mercury to suppress melanin. When applied daily, mercury is absorbed through the skin and accumulates in the body, leading to direct cellular toxicity and immune-mediated kidney damage.
A 2024 study in the medical journal Kidney International linked mercury-laced fairness creams to an increase in Membranous Nephropathy (MN), a kidney disease that damages the organ's filtering units and causes excessive protein leakage into urine. The study examined 22 patients diagnosed between July 2021 and September 2023 and found a strong association with prolonged use of such creams. Researchers warned that mercury absorbed through the skin can gradually accumulate in the kidneys, increasing the risk of long-term damage.
