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It is only now that the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has raised an alarm against a popular beauty product, Dove Beauty Cream Bar Soap, 100g, for adulteration with a harmful chemical impurity. This came after the withdrawal of the product from the market by the agency, with batch number 81832M 08, due to the presence of Butylphenyl Methylpropional, abbreviated as BMHCA, a chemical dangerous to consumers’ health.
NAFDAC, in its statement, said the soap, though manufactured in Germany, contravened the Cosmetic Products Regulation because it contains BMHCA-which has been banned from cosmetics by various regulatory bodies, including the European Union-for causing great injury. Chief among the injuries of BMHCA is its tendency to cause damage to the reproductive system, harm unborn children, and cause skin sensitization. In the face of these risks, NAFDAC is now asking Nigerian consumers to stop using the product with immediate effect and to report any side effects they may have experienced.
The Health Risks of BMHCA
Also known as Lilial, Butylphenyl Methylpropional is a fragrance ingredient commonly used in various cosmetics and personal care products. However, for some time now, its safety has been questioned, especially in Europe, where it puts strict regulation on consumer safety. BMHCA is known as a reproductive toxicant; thus, it is absorbed through the skin and affects the reproductive system and the development of unborn children. It also can cause skin irritation and sensitization, which may lead to allergic reactions in some people.
Per scientific evidence showing its harmful effects, the EU officially banned the use of BMHCA in all cosmetic products this March 2022. Several such products containing the said chemical have been pulled off the market-a few popular brands among them-as a consequence of this ban. The decision by NAFDAC to likewise recall the Dove Beauty Cream Bar Soap shows that the agency will not be an onlooker when it comes to protecting Nigerian consumers against hazardous ingredients.
NAFDAC Public Alert
NAFDAC, in a public alert titled “Public Alert No. 035/2024 – Alert on the Recall of Dove Beauty Cream Bar Soap due to Butylphenyl Methylpropional (BMHCA) Content,” gave details of the product. The key information to help consumers identify the product was provided by the agency and is as follows: product name, Dove Beauty Cream Bar Soap; brand, Dove; country of manufacture, Germany; and bar code number, 8000700000005. The affected batch number is 81832M 08.
NAFDAC reiterated the importance of the recall and urged consumers to immediately discontinue using the product. It further urged all who may have used the soap and think they have an adverse reaction to report their suspicion through NAFDAC’s Med Safety App or directly to the nearest NAFDAC office. The agency is vigorously monitoring the situation and will extend further measures that will be necessary toward ensuring safety to the public.
Impact on the Market and Consumers
Dove is one of the most recognizable brands in the global beauty and skincare industry, offering a wide portfolio of personal care products. Recall of the Dove Beauty Cream Bar Soap because of BMHCA content is very capable of causing an alarm amongst Nigerian consumers who use the brand because they believe in its quality and safety. This decision by NAFDAC reminds us again that even the most widely trusted and popular of products are not immune to regulation when the health of the public is at stake.
While this current batch of Dove Beauty Cream Bar Soap has been pegged with the presence of BMHCA, it becomes important for the consumer to realize that not all Dove products are affected. This recall applies only to the 100g bar soap bearing the identified batch number and bar code. All the same, the incident serves to drive home the importance of regulatory oversight in the cosmetic industry towards ensuring that companies observe standards for ensuring safety and that products reaching the market do not pose health risks to users.
NAFDAC’s Role in Consumer Protection
NAFDAC is very strategically placed in the protection of public health within Nigeria because it is an agency empowered to regulate and control the manufacture, importation, distribution, sale, and use of food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, chemicals, and packaged water. Regulatory activities of NAFDAC are trying to ensure that products in the Nigerian market should be safe and free from injurious substances.
In that respect, the recall of Dove Beauty Cream Bar Soap by NAFDAC is timely because it appears to take very swift action in defense of its consumers against dangerous products. It thus has a formidable monitoring and response system in place which involves the issuance of public alerts, recalling products from the market, and urging the public to report, where applicable, any adverse effects encountered.
The NAFDAC recall and ban of Dove Beauty Cream Bar Soap, 100g, is a critical measure in the protection of consumers from the dangerous effects of Butylphenyl Methylpropional, one active chemical ingredient present in such products. During this period, when realization of its dangers has been palpably handled, consumers must be warned through an agency to stop using the product, keeping themselves more alert about the safety of cosmetics used. What this means is that the unrelenting effort of NAFDAC to regulate and monitor the market will surely ensure that Nigerians‘ health is protected and not exposed to hazardous substances in everyday consumer goods.
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