Published: 22 December 2021
Safety Information
Alert communication
Medsafe is issuing a warning not to use Goree Beauty Cream with Lycopene, Goree Day and Night Beauty Cream Oil Free, and Golden Pearl Beauty Cream – statement under section 98 of the Medicines Act 1981.
Do not use the following products because they contain mercury and lead: Goree Beauty Cream with Lycopene, Goree Day and Night Beauty Cream Oil Free, and Golden Pearl Beauty Cream. Mercury and lead are dangerous to your health.
These products are all presented as skin whitening (or lightening) beauty creams in a small round plastic tub, packaged in a square box. This warning statement is made by the Director-General of Health under section 98 of the Medicines Act 1981.
- Advice for consumers
- Information for healthcare professionals
- Products affected
- Further information
- Useful links
Advice for consumers
- If you have bought the following products, do not use them: Goree Beauty Cream with Lycopene Goree Day and Night Beauty Cream Oil Free, and Golden Pearl Beauty Cream.
- These products contain mercury, which is dangerous to your health. It may have toxic effects on the nervous, digestive and immune systems, and on the lungs, kidneys, skin and eyes. It can also affect the development of unborn babies.
- These products also contain lead which may also affect your health.
- Return the products to the place that you bought them if possible or contact your local landfill or Council to find out how you can safely dispose of them.
- Seek medical advice if you have suffered any problems following the use of this product. Tell the health care professional that you have been using a product that contains mercury. You can also call the National Poisons Centre tollfree on 0800 764 766.
- Signs and symptoms of mercury poisoning include irritability, shyness, tremors, changes in vision or hearing, memory problems, depression, numbness and tingling in hands, feet or around the mouth.
- Lead poisoning may affect neurological development in children, and affect the gastrointestinal and nervous systems and have other effects in adults.
Information for healthcare professionals
- Goree Beauty Cream with Lycopene, Goree Day and Night Beauty Cream Oil Free, and Golden Pearl Beauty Cream have been laboratory tested, and found to contain mercury, at levels that would make them prescription medicines. They have also been found to contain high levels of lead. The metals are present at levels that would make the products prescription medicines.
- If a patient presents with adverse reactions that may possibly be attributable to mercury or lead, then use of the above product, or similar, should be considered.
- The product labels do not declare the presence of mercury or lead on the labels.
Products affected
The products are typically marketed as skin whitening beauty creams.
Goree Beauty Cream with Lycopene (cream in a small tub).
Goree Day and Night Beauty Cream Oil Free
Golden Pearl Beauty Cream
Further information
Other similar whitening products marketed in New Zealand, including through links to offshore websites, may contain mercury or other ingredients of concern. Because of the health risks associated with these ingredients, Medsafe recommends caution if you are considering purchasing skin whitening products locally, from overseas websites, or via NZ-based social media network marketing links to such sites.
Medsafe is aware that other individuals or businesses may have imported these products for personal use or for resale.
Mercury, and mercury salts are not permitted to be included in cosmetics in New Zealand, except in some limited circumstances.
These products are intended for a therapeutic purpose and act in a manner consistent with that of a medicine. The levels of mercury and lead found in the samples of these products that were tested make them prescription medicines.
The products do not have consent for distribution as medicines in New Zealand, and the quality, safety and effectiveness of these products has not been established.
Medsafe has also alerted the Ministry for the Environment, and the Environmental Protection Authority about this issue.
Useful links
