MANILA, Philippines—Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned the public against an unregistered skin-whitening product being advertised and sold via social networking site Facebook.

In an advisory, FDA head Kenneth Hartigan-Go identified the product as Luxxe Whitening, Enhanced Glutathione.

“Luxxe Whitening, Enhanced Glutathione is neither registered with the FDA as a drug nor as a food supplement. Thus, the FDA declares that such advertisement, promotion and sale is an outright violation of the provisions of Republic Act No. 3720 as amended by Republic Act No. 9711 prohibiting the manufacture, importation, exportation, sale, offering for sale, distribution, transfer, non-consumer use, promotion, advertisement of any health product which is not registered with the FDA,” he said.

The FDA said the advertisements claim the product can:

* remove blemishes, pimples and acne problems.

* clean internal organs especially the liver.

* detoxify the body and destroy free radicals that may lead to cancer.

* protect the cell and is needed by the body.

It also said the ads claimed the product was “FDA approved” and “Halal approved” and that it had earned the Global Brands and Top Brands awards.

The FDA urged the public to report unregistered health products or establishments selling unregistered health products via [email protected] or at 857-1900 local 1051.