New Yorkers might want to double-check their beauty products following a recent clampdown on illegal mercury levels in skin-lightening creams by Attorney General Letitia James. According to an official announcement from the Attorney General's Office, the move comes after an investigation into three companies—Aleena Cosmetics, Axabee Skincare, and Singhcart, LLC—that found some products contained mercury levels up to a staggering 30,000 times the legal limit. This isn't just a minor skirting of regulations; we're talking intense exposure that can potentially cause severe health issues ranging from neurological damage to liver and kidney harm.
In a determined effort to immediately safeguard consumers, cease-and-desist letters were issued to the companies. They've got five business days to clean up their act or face the possibility of legal repercussions and hefty penalties. The crackdown may potentially put an abrupt stop to sales of their mercury-laden products. "Mercury is poison, not a beauty treatment, and no company has any business selling it to consumers," Attorney General James told the press. And she's right—these are not small numbers we're dealing with; some of the products contained mercury concentrations that are frankly alarming.
The investigation by the OAG sparked into action following concerns raised by health advocates and community organizations, uncovering that all the products bought and independently tested from the two companies based in Malverne contained illegal levels of mercury. Singhcart, LLC, based in Valley Stream, was caught selling the same illicit products. To be clear, under New York law, only "trace amounts" of mercury are permitted in cosmetics—specifically, less than one part per million.
To further protect public health, Attorney General James advises residents to steer clear of products that skip out on listing ingredients or directly include mercury or its compounds on their labels. The worst part is, it's not only the users who suffer—mercury can hitch a ride on household items and can even be accidentally ingested or inhaled. This means potentially everyone in a house could be affected, which only compounds the risks. "My office is shutting down these unlawful sales to protect consumers throughout New York. We will not let companies profit by endangering New Yorkers’ health," James emphasized in the announcement from the Attorney General's Office.
Support is pouring in from various community organizations applauding James's actions, recognizing the significance of targeting the beauty industry's unhealthy grasp on communities of color. WE ACT for Environmental Justice, and the Zero Mercury Working Group among others, are backing James's crackdown. Peggy Shepard, WE ACT's Executive Director, praised the initiative for taking "action against the companies violating this law," especially considering the products' marketing toward people of color and women who are consistently pressured by eurocentric beauty standards to lighten their skin.
Companies now on notice, consumers are encouraged to report sales of illegitimate skin-lightening products within the city by calling 311, and elsewhere, through the OAG's Environmental Protection Bureau or the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. The point is loud and clear: illegal levels of mercury in skin products are dangerous, unethical, and now, under increased scrutiny in New York. For those worrying about prior exposure, consulting their healthcare provider is the next prudent step.
