Applied Baby Cream, Face Became 'Swollen'... Following Fake Formula Scandal, 'Hormone Cream' Controversy

Some babies in China who applied a specific baby cream experienced abnormal symptoms such as facial swelling and weight gain. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

[Asia Economy Reporter Nana] In China, authorities have launched an investigation after abnormal symptoms such as facial swelling and acute obesity appeared in babies who were applied with a specific baby cream.

On the 8th, Zhongxin Jingwei reported that a controversy over low-quality baby cream arose in Zhangzhou City, Fujian Province, China. According to parents in Zhangzhou City, when the cream was applied to babies, abnormal symptoms such as hypertrichosis, facial swelling, acute obesity, and growth retardation appeared in the babies.

This baby cream was produced by a cosmetics company based in Fujian Province and was promoted as having sterilizing effects. However, unexpected side effects occurred, leading parents to suspect that there might be problems with the cream’s ingredients, sparking a scandal.

Parents claimed that the cream seemed to contain a large amount of hormones. In fact, some babies showed abnormal symptoms such as facial swelling and weight gain after using the cream.

As the issue escalated, the Zhangzhou Municipal Health Commission issued a statement on the same day, announcing that it had ordered a recall from the manufacturer. They also explained that they collected cream samples and product packaging on-site for analysis. The company has temporarily suspended production and notified retailers to dispose of all related products.

Meanwhile, China experienced a similar scandal last year involving counterfeit infant formula. Some babies who consumed the special formula suffered from abnormal side effects such as cranial deformities and cranial expansion. Others were diagnosed with rickets, a condition that can cause bone deformities or growth disorders due to vitamin D deficiency.

At that time, parents reportedly purchased the formula following doctors’ advice to feed amino acid formula due to their babies’ milk allergies. However, it was later revealed that the formula was merely a simple solid beverage.

Previously, China faced several infant formula scandals, including the 2004 incident where dozens of babies died and hundreds developed macrocephaly after consuming fake low-quality formula, and the 2008 melamine-contaminated industrial formula scandal, which resulted in six infant deaths and hundreds of thousands suffering from kidney stones.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.