The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has prohibited the sale and distribution of Goree Beauty Cream, a skin-lightening product manufactured in Pakistan, after laboratory tests detected dangerously high levels of mercury in the cream. Officials also found that the product was being sold without an expiry date.
The action came after complaints emerged from Nagpur, where several women who had been using Goree Beauty Cream developed kidney-related health problems. According to officials, some users had purchased the cream through e-commerce platforms and had been applying it regularly for nearly two years.
Following the complaints, the FDA collected samples of the product for laboratory testing. The analysis confirmed the presence of mercury, a toxic heavy metal known to cause serious damage to the kidneys, nervous system and other organs following prolonged exposure.
Officials also noted that the product lacked an expiry date, raising additional concerns about its safety and compliance with regulatory standards.
Based on these findings, the FDA imposed a statewide ban on the sale and distribution of Goree Beauty Cream and initiated a special enforcement drive to remove the product from the market. Raids are being carried out across multiple districts, including Nagpur, to identify and seize available stocks.
The FDA has advised consumers not to purchase or use the cream, warning that long-term use of cosmetics containing mercury can pose significant health risks.
Authorities said the enforcement campaign is continuing across Maharashtra, with efforts focused on tracing sales through both online marketplaces and local distributors. The public has also been urged to report any instances of the product being sold in the state.
Goree Beauty Cream is marketed as a skin-lightening cosmetic that claims to reduce pigmentation, dark spots and uneven skin tone while promoting a fairer complexion. Manufactured in Pakistan, the product has gained popularity in parts of South Asia through informal retail channels and online platforms.
