Discovery of Bio Gold Papaya Whitening Beauty Cream with Honey Brings Total of Mercury-Laced Pakistan-Made Cosmetics to 44
19 July 2026, Quezon City. The EcoWaste Coalition has uncovered yet another Pakistani skin-lightening product—the 44th so far—with mercury concentrations hitting almost 15,000 ppm.
The toxics watchdog group bought the unauthorized Bio Gold Papaya Whitening Beauty Cream with Honey from a local online seller for P320. The packaging shows a manufacturing date of December 2025 and an expiration date of December 2028.
Using a handheld XRF analyzer, the group detected 14,880 ppm of mercury in the facial cream.
XRF screening indicates the presence of mercury in this Pakistan-made skin-lightening product, measured at 14,880 ppm.
The detection of mercury on the said product, which promises “wrinkle-free face, visible whiteness and reduced dark spots,” violates the Minamata Convention on Mercury, the EcoWaste Coalition pointed out.
Ratified by the governments of Pakistan and the Philippines in 2020, the treaty, among other requirements, bans the use of mercury in cosmetics, such as skin-lightening products, prohibiting their manufacture, import, and export to protect public health and the environment.
The packaging claims that Bio Gold “is designed for an extra whitening boost, promoting a visibly fairer complexion.” The cream is supposedly “packed with the goodness of papaya… (to) nourish and rejuvenate the skin for a healthy glow.”
While the label includes a list of ingredients, the omission of mercury and its compounds leaves consumers uninformed.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO): “Many skin‑lightening products work by reducing melanin levels but often contain hazardous substances such as mercury,” which WHO classifies as one of the ten chemicals of major public health concern. “Even low‑level mercury exposure can cause serious health effects, including neurological damage, and poses particular risks to fetal and early childhood development.”
“Mercury also contaminates the environment: when products are washed off, mercury enters wastewater systems and persists in soil, water, and ecosystems without breaking down,” the WHO further said.
Mercury in skin-lightening products poses serious health risks, including kidney damage, neurological disorders, and other adverse side effects, while also adding to mercury contamination of the environment.
To date, the EcoWaste Coalition has detected 44 Pakistan-made, mercury-contaminated skin lightening products that were subsequently reported to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), including Aima Gold Beauty Cream; Aneeza Gold Beauty Cream; Aneeza Safron Beauty Cream; AQME Beauty Cream; Arayna Papaya Glow Beauty Cream; Arena Gold Beauty Cream; Arena Gold New Fairness Cream for Men; Armena Gold Beauty Cream; Biocos Beauty Cream; Bio Gold Papaya Whitening Beauty Cream; Chandni Day & Night Whitening Cream (black packaging); Chandni Whitening Cream (white packaging); Chandni Whitening Cream Men’s; Due Beauty Cream; Face Fresh Beauty Cream; Faiza Beauty Cream; Fresh & White Beauty Cream; Golden Pearl Beauty Cream (gold and red packaging); Golden Pearl Beauty Cream (gold and yellow packaging); Golden Pearl Beauty Cream with Gluta Serum; and Golden Pearl Ultra Glam Beauty Cream.
Also found laden with mercury were Goree Gold 24K Beauty Cream; Goree Gold 24K 3-in-1 Beauty Kit; Goree 4-in-1 Beauty Kit; Jhalak Beauty Cream; Morning Face Beauty Cream; Navia Gluta Bright Beauty Cream; Parley 24K Gold Gleam Beauty Cream; Parley Beauty Cream; Parley Goldie Advanced Beauty Cream; Parley Whitening Cream; Pure Pearl Beauty Cream; Safora Beauty Cream; Sandal Whitening Beauty Cream; Sativa Beauty Cream; Seven Herbal Beauty Cream; Seven Herbal Ubtan; Super White Anti-Marks Cream; Super White Beauty Cream; Tibet Snow; Yaz Beauty Cream Double White + Vitamin C; Yaz Gold Beauty Cream Active White + 24K Gold Dust; Zartaaj Beauty Cream; and Zoya Gold Beauty Cream.
To prevent mercury exposure, the EcoWaste Coalition called on consumers to heed these reminders:
1. Embrace your natural skin color and challenge colorism, a form of discrimination or prejudice that favors people with lighter skin. Reject chemical whiteners entirely and take pride in your innate skin complexion.
2. Read product labels carefully and watch out for red flags, including poor labeling information and “too good to be true” product claims.
3. Watch out for e-commerce listings. Many FDA-flagged products, particularly the three variants of Goree Beauty Cream, are easily obtainable online and in physical stores.
4. Visit the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) verification portal ( https://verification.fda.gov.ph/) before adding to cart or making a purchase.
5. Report to the FDA vendors selling unauthorized or flagged skin-lightening products.
6. If you have used skin-lightening products from unknown sources or with unknown composition and experience skin rashes, discoloration, and other symptoms, immediately seek medical attention.
Reference:
https://minamataconvention.org/en/topics/mercury-cosmetics
