Wed Feb 12 17:41:30 UTC 2025: ## Dangerous Perfume Seized in Kerala: High Methanol Content Poses Health Risks
**Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 13, 2025** – Kerala’s Drugs Control Department seized a perfume containing up to 95% methyl alcohol during a raid targeting spurious cosmetics. The “Karishma” brand perfume, manufactured by an Ahmedabad-based company, was confiscated from a wholesale shop in Ernakulam. Authorities launched “Operation Soundarya” to crack down on such products.
High levels of methanol in cosmetics are extremely dangerous. Absorption through the skin can cause various health problems, ranging from skin irritation and rashes to severe systemic poisoning, vision problems, nausea, and headaches. The methanol content violates India’s Drugs and Cosmetics Act, which classifies such products as adulterated.
The department’s Assistant Drugs Controller, Santhosh K. Mathew, led the raid. Further investigations into the Ahmedabad-based manufacturer’s licensing are underway. The sale of spurious cosmetics carries a penalty of up to three years imprisonment and a ₹50,000 fine. The department has intensified raids to remove these dangerous products from the market. Consumers are urged to exercise caution when purchasing cosmetics.
First Piper 