American multinational healthcare organization Johnson & Johnson has chosen to stop selling skin-whitening creams popular in Asia and the Middle East after its products faced renewed social pressure in recent weeks amid a global debate about racial inequality and justice.
The firm will discontinue selling its Clean & Clear Fairness line of products available in India. It was also reported earlier this month that it would drop its Neutrogena Fine Fairness line marketed in Asia and the Middle East.
“Conversations over the past few weeks highlighted that some product names or claims on our dark spot reducer products represent fairness or white as better than your own unique skin tone. This was never our intention. Healthy skin is beautiful skin.” Johnson & Johnson Statement
The company said that it would no longer manufacture or ship the products but they might still be there on stores until stocks are depleted.
Creams that assure to lighten or brighten skin are sold essentially to women by the world’s biggest personal care companies including Unilever, Procter & Gamble and L’Oreal under their individual brands Fair & Lovely, Olay and Garnier. These organizations are yet to release a statement on the development.
According to Euromonitor International, close to 6,277 tonnes of skin lighteners were sold worldwide last year, including products sold as anti-aging creams targeting dark spots or freckles.
