Couple fined for selling toxic skin bleaching products

In the year that has seen great debate about the legacy of enslavement, one of the rising topics of interest and focus has been the issue of shadism in the community. This followed on from the convictions in 2006 of a number of Asian business owners who were caught selling harmful skin bleaching products containing the banned substance hydroquinone.

This month, former Black Business Award winners, Yinka and Michael Oluyemi were fined £70,000 after they admitted selling poisonous skin bleaching products in their Peckham based shop, Yinka Bodyline and Beauty Express. Much like their Asian business counterparts, the Oluyemi’s were repeat offenders having previously received a number of official warnings and being fined in 2001 for selling products containing hydroquinone and harmful levels of mercury. Despite this, in October 2005, the couple were awarded a Black Business Award “for their contributions to the hair and beauty industry”.