LVMH ordered to recall toxic Dior Nail Glow

Dior Nail Glow

By Park Jae-hyuk

LVMH Cosmetics' Korean affiliate has been ordered to stop selling and recall Dior Nail Glow, which is alleged to contain harmful substances, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety said Tuesday.

The ministry urged consumers, who bought the cosmetics product, to take the defective item back to the seller.

LVMH Cosmetics is a perfume and cosmetics unit of LVMH, a French multinational luxury goods conglomerate which owns Louis Vuitton, Givenchy, Dior, Fendi, TAG Heuer and Marc Jacobs.

In Korea, LMVH Cosmetics is better known as an importer of luxury cosmetics brands, including Guerlain, Dior, Givenchy, Benefit, Make Up For Ever and Fresh.

Dior Nail Glow has been popular with Korean consumers, who want to make their nails look brighter and “younger.”

The local affiliate has imported the product from the French-based manufacturer, Parfums Christian Dior.

According to the authorities, the problematic products were found to contain fluorescent brightener 367.

Commonly known as white dye, the chemical compound absorbs light in the ultraviolet and violet region of the electromagnetic spectrum, and re-emits light in the blue region by fluorescence.

The additive is often used to enhance the appearance of the color of fabric and paper, causing a whitening effect.

However, some brighteners can cause allergic reactions when in contact with skin, depending on the individual.

Since concerns over the safety of the compound grew here in 2008, the Korean government has recommended manufacturers not to add the substance to products that can be absorbed into skin.

“Although the United States and Europe have yet to prohibit manufacturers from adding fluorescent brightener to cosmetics, Korea has banned cosmetics manufacturers from using it, as a preemptive measure,” an official of the ministry said.

Some scientists categorize some types of fluorescent brightener as carcinogens, according to industry officials.

In 2016, Lotte Mart voluntarily recalled its private labeled detergent for fruits and vegetables, after finding out the product containing fluorescent brightener.