Philippines’ FDA bans sale of 12 Korean cosmetics due to antimony levels

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the Philippines has issued a public health alert regarding 12 Korean cosmetics due to high levels of antimony.

Antimony is a heavy metal known to cause symptoms such as skin irritation, headaches, nausea, vomiting, insomnia and abdominal pain. It is said that the metal can also cause damage to the lungs, heart muscle and liver.

The FDA has advised anyone showing symptoms due to antimony toxicity to consult a doctor.

The alert follows a move by South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) to ban distribution of the products and recall orders.

The banned products include Aritaum Full Cover Stick Concealer (#1 Light Beige), Aritaum Full Cover Stick Concealer (#2 Natural Beige) and Aritaum Full Cover Cream Concealer (#1 Light Beige & Natural Beige), as well as Aritaum Full Cover Cream Concealer (#2 Olive Green & Pink), Etude House Drawing Eyebrow Duo (#3 Gray Brown) and XTM Style Homme For Men Easy Stick Concealer.

Also included in the list are Black Monster Homme Black Erasing Pen, Skeda Homme Spot Concealer, Skinfood Cherry Full Lip Liner (Rose Cherry), 3CE Slim Eyebrow Pencil (Chestnut Brown), Makeheal Naked Slim Brown Pencil Br0203 and Makeheal Naked Slim Brown Pencil Yl0801.

Consumers already in possession of the products have been advised to immediately stop using them and throw them away.