BANGKOK, 5 July 2013 Japanese cosmetics maker Kanebo has announced that it is recalling 54 of its skin whitening products from all over Asia, including Thailand, after the company received complaints saying the products caused skin discoloration.
The cosmetics contain a substance called 4HPB or Rhododenol, which was developed by Kanebo and has been used as an active ingredient in their products since 2008.
The recalled products include the Kanebo Blanshir Superior and White Deep series of cosmetics.
The company spokesperson said that there had been 39 complaints from customers in Japan alone over discoloration of their skin after use.
A combined 4.36 million units of these products have been shipped by Kanebo and its subsidiaries in Japan and around 370,000 items have been sent to overseas markets.
The recall affects Japan and 10 other Asian markets, which are Taiwan, Hong Kong, South Korea, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar, the Philippines and Vietnam.
