In the past, to highlight the green, healthy, and harmless nature of cosmetics, manufacturers often promoted products using terms like "pure plant-based" and "all-natural." Now that these phrases have been explicitly banned by regulatory authorities, some companies have shifted to touting "food-grade edible" claims, implying to consumers that if a product is safe enough to eat, it must be safe for the skin.
In reality, the concept of "food-grade cosmetics" is entirely bogus.According to China's "Regulations on the Supervision and Administration of Cosmetics," cosmetics refer to daily chemical products applied to the skin, hair, nails, lips, and other body surfaces through rubbing, spraying, or similar methods for the purpose of cleansing, protecting, beautifying, or decorating. As a chemical product, cosmetics' application methods, target areas, and mechanisms of action inherently preclude any edible function, rendering the notion of "food-grade" cosmetics non-existent.
Cosmetics and food belong to distinct industries. They differ in application sites, absorbed ingredients, raw material requirements, product specifications, prohibited/restricted substances, regulatory frameworks, and testing standards. Food-grade products are not inherently safer for skincare.Take lemon as an example: freshly squeezed lemon juice is safe to drink, but applying it directly to the face won't whiten skin and may cause itching and redness. Cosmetics utilize active ingredients from lemons through specialized extraction methods, carefully adjusting concentration and irritation levels.
Food is food, and cosmetics are cosmetics—the two should not be conflated.According to existing standards and regulations, cosmetics are not intended for consumption, and the concept of "edible-grade cosmetics" does not exist. Since the beginning of this year, market regulatory authorities in multiple regions have issued relevant consumer advisories. However, the marketing tactics surrounding "food-grade cosmetics" have not been effectively curbed. The Consumer Rights Protection Law stipulates that businesses must provide consumers with truthful and comprehensive information regarding the quality, performance, intended use, and expiration dates of goods or services, and must not engage in false or misleading advertising.The Advertising Law explicitly prohibits advertisements from containing false or misleading content that deceives or misleads consumers. Food-grade cosmetics constitute classic false advertising. Relevant authorities must go beyond merely alerting consumers; they must legally order businesses to cease such promotions, eliminate their impact, and impose corresponding penalties. Long-term, it is necessary to further refine regulations by adding "food-grade edible" to the list of prohibited terms in cosmetic advertising. This would standardize marketing practices and safeguard consumers' legitimate rights and interests.