Britain: Lightening Strike

The battle against criminals importing illegal skin-lightening products is being lost despite a huge seizure of the products at Gatwick Airport last week. Officers from the Trading Standards Service seized highly dangerous batches of creams - designed to lighten black and Asian skin - that were destined for markets in London. Thousands are sold each year ‘under the counter’ in hair and make-up salons across the capital. The latest seizure was hidden in freight marked ‘food stuff’ on flights from West Africa. Tests on the products have revealed high levels of hydroquinone – a highly toxic chemical that cause damage to the skin and eyes. They also often contain ingredients such as mercury soap and steroid-based creams. Retailers who sell the toxic creams can be punished with fines of up to £5,000 (US$9,000), but they often get away with just the cost of losing the products. Despite the health dangers, skin-lightening products are as popular as ever in the black community. Sherry Dixon, editor of black women’s monthly Pride agrees that black and ethnic minority communities have to challenge the belief that lighter skin is necessarily better. “I’m surprised that these products are coming into the UK. I thought we had moved on and started celebrating being black. It’s sad that there are still people that are using these products.”

Amen, sista. These products are still around? No surprise though.