The face paint that children use for Halloween could have a much more frightening effect than parents realize, US Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) warned Sunday.
A majority of the makeup made in China often contains dangerous chemicals such as lead, nickel, cobalt and chromium — all which pose serious health risks — he said in a press conference.
“These toxic ingredients can make a child sick, but they’re never listed on the package,” Schumer pointed out, holding up makeup palettes by Rubie’s Costume Company, Wet N’ Wild Fantasy Makers, and Fun World as examples of potentially dangerous products.
In a letter to the federal Food and Drug Administration, the senator is pushing authorities to tighten the regulation of the harmful products, insisting that the agency establish strict guidelines and “unmask” the toxic ingredients that aren’t properly shown on labels.
Schumer is also urging parents to be more skeptical of the novelty cosmetics they’re piling into their shopping carts.
“Parents are totally clueless as to what they’re putting on their child’s face. If they see it on the shelf they think it’s safe, but it’s not,” he said.
“When you buy makeup for your kids, make sure it doesn’t say made in China.”
A report released by the advocacy group Campaign for Safe Cosmetics revealed that all of the 10 face paints tested contained lead and six of them had nickel, cobalt and/or chromium.