Kanebo recalls 29 cosmetic products in Vietnam.

On the morning of July 6th, representatives of LK Trading Co., Ltd. – the official distributor of Kanebo Cosmetics from Japan – officially announced the recall of 29 product codes currently circulating in Vietnam that contain the ingredient Rhododenol.

Several Kanebo Cosmetic products are being recalled in Vietnam.
(Photo: Thuy Giang/Vietnam+)

Accordingly, Kanebo Cosmetic will voluntarily recall 29 products currently circulating in Vietnam that contain Rhododenol due to concerns about potential side effects of this ingredient.

This information comes after recent media reports about the recall of 54 product lines from the Japanese cosmetics company Kanebo Cosmetics due to the presence of Rhododenol, an ingredient that caused skin irritation in some consumers.

Mr. Kunimitsu Kuki, Head of Business Development Strategy for Asia at Kanebo Cosmetics, a Japanese cosmetics company, stated that on July 4th, Kanebo Cosmetics officially decided to voluntarily recall 54 skin-whitening products containing Rhododenol worldwide. This decision was made after several cases of skin irritation resulting in white spots were reported among some Japanese consumers.

According to Mr. Kunimitsu Kuki, Rhododenol, an active ingredient in skin whitening products, is not on the list of banned substances. However, since May, 39 customers in Japan who used Kanebo cosmetics containing Rhododenol have experienced skin irritation and the appearance of unusual white patches. These reactions were mild, and none of the customers required hospitalization.

Kanebo Cosmetic's cosmetic products in Vietnam come in a variety of designs. (Photo: PV/Vietnam+)

In the Vietnamese market, Ms. Nguyen Thi Hong Van – General Director of LK Trading Co., Ltd. – the official distributor of Kanebo Cosmetics from Japan, stated that products containing Rhododenol have been supplied since November 2010. Since then, the company has imported thousands of boxes of these products. However, as of today (July 6th), no adverse reactions have occurred among consumers.

However, to minimize reputational damage and prevent risks to customers, Kanebo Cosmetics Japan has decided to voluntarily recall 9 types, including 29 Kanebo product codes in Vietnam, that contain Rhododenol.

Nine product categories include: Blanchir Superior White Deep Clear Conditioner, Blanchir Superior White Deep Milky Conditioner, Blanchir Superior White Deep Night Conditioner, Blanchir Superior White Deep Mask, White Deep UV Day Protector, Impress IC White Lotion, Impress IC White Emulsion, Impress IC White Fit Mask 3D, Impress Granmula Lotion.

The Kanebo Cosmetics products recalled in Vietnam were sold at prices ranging from 800,000 VND to 1,300,000 VND per box.

Currently, in the Vietnamese market, Kanebo's cosmetic products comprise approximately 6 lines with around 60 different products.

Rhododenol is a skin-whitening active ingredient exclusively developed by Kanebo Cosmetics (Japan's second-largest cosmetics company). Its chemical name is 4HPB, derived from a natural substance found in many plants such as birch and maple trees, which helps prevent the production of dark spots, melasma, and freckles.

On January 25, 2008, the Japanese Ministry of Health licensed and certified Rhododenol as a pharmaceutical ingredient, permitted for use in cosmetic production and not included in the list of prohibited substances under the ASEAN Cosmetics Agreement.

List of 29 recalled products in the Vietnamese market:

1. KANEBO BLANCHIR SUPERIOR WHITE DEEP CLEAR CONDITIONER I
2. KANEBO BLANCHIR SUPERIOR WHITE DEEP CLEAR CONDITIONER III
3. KANEBO BLANCHIR SUPERIOR WHITE DEEP CLEAR CONDITIONER II
4. KANEBO BLANCHIR SUPERIOR WHITE DEEP UV DAY PROTECTOR
5. KANEBO BLANCHIR SUPERIOR WHITE DEEP MILKY CONDITIONER I
6. BLANCHIR SUPERIOR WHITE DEEP MILKY CONDITIONER 2(MINI)
7. BLANCHIR SUPERIOR WHITE DEEP CLEAR CONDITIONER 2(MINI)
8. KANEBO BLANCHIR SUPERIOR WHITE DEEP MILKY CONDITIONER II
9. KANEBO BLANCHIR SUPERIOR WHITE DEEP CLEAR CONDITIONER III
10. KANEBO BLANCHIR SUPERIOR WHITE DEEP CLEAR CONDITIONER II
11. KANEBO BLANCHIR SUPERIOR WHITE DEEP CLEAR CONDITIONER I
12. KANEBO BLANCHIR SUPERIOR WHITE DEEP NIGHT CONDITIONER I
13. KANEBO BLANCHIR SUPERIOR WHITE DEEP NIGHT CONDITIONER II
14. KANEBO BLANCHIR SUPERIOR WHITE DEEP MASK
15. KANEBO BLANCHIR SUPERIOR WHITE DEEP CLEAR CONDITIONER1 SET1
16. BLANCHIR SUPERIOR WHITENING W CONCLUSION SET P
17. BLANCHIR SUPERIOR WHITE DEEP CLEAR CONDITIONER 2 SET 4(280)
18. KANEBO BLANCHIR SUPERIOR WHITE DEEP NIGHT CONDITIONER 2(C)
19. KANEBO BLANCHIR SUPERIOR WHITE DEEP NIGHT CONDITIONER 1(G)
20. BLANCHIR SUPERIOR WHITE DEEP CLEAR CONDITIONER1 SET R
21. BLANCHIR SUPERIOR WHITENING W CONCLUSION SET 5
22. KANEBO BLANCHIR SUPERIOR WHITENING W CONCLUSION SET 3
23. BLANCHIR SUPERIOR WHITENING W CONCLUSION SET 4
24. IMPRESS GRANMULA LOTION
25. IMPRESS IC WHITE LOTION I
26. IMPRESS IC WHITE LOTION II
27. IMPRESS IC WHITE EMULSION I
28. IMPRESS IC WHITE EMULSION II
29. IMPRESS IC WHITE RETURNERGY KIT A

According to (Vietnam+) - LT