J&J to Stop Selling Fairness Products in India
Amidst debates of racial inequality around the world, companies such as Johnson & Johnson and Unilever have announced to discontinue their fairness product.
After the death of a black man named George Floyd, a global debate about racial inequality has started going on all around the world. Many companies have been accused of being racists. In recent weeks, companies that sell fairness products have been accused of marketing that having fair skin is better than being dark. On Friday 19th June Johnson & Johnson announced that it had decided to stop selling skin-whitening creams which are famous in Asia and the Middle East. Johnson & Johnson spokeswoman said that they have decided to stop selling its Neutrogena Fine Fairness line, available in Asia and the Middle East.
Johnson & Johnson said, "In the last few weeks during conversations, we found that some product names or claims on our dark spot reducer products mean fairness or white skin as better than your own unique skin tone. This was never our intention. Healthy skin is beautiful skin." The company said it would no longer produce or ship the products but they may still be available on store shelves until stocks last. World’s biggest personal care (hygiene and care products like soaps, creams) companies under their brand names like Unilever – Fair & Lovely, Procter & Gamble – Olay and L'Oreal - Garnier sell these mostly to women creams that promise to lighten or brighten skin. After Johnson and Johnson decided to stop selling fairness products, these companies too were asked for comments but they did not immediately respond.
In the latest news, Hindustan Unilever has announced that they will remove the word Fair from Fair & Lovely. The company said their aim is to empower women and not differentiate between any skin colour. They have also said that they will remove shade cards from their packaging. According to Euromonitor International (research company), last year about 6,277 tonnes of skin lightener were sold including products sold as anti-ageing creams with the aim to reduce dark spots or freckles.
