Disney hand sanitizers recalled after FDA detected carcinogen chemicals

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• Best Brands Consumer Products is voluntarily recalling two lots of Disney-brand hand sanitizers — the Mickey Mouse and Mandalorian-edition hand sanitizers.
• The recall was announced after FDA testing found benzene, a human carcinogen, in the Mandalorian hand sanitizer and methanol in the Mickey sanitizer.
• There have been no complaints of adverse effects received for either hand sanitizer.

Best Brands Consumer Products announced the voluntary recall of two lots of Disney-branded hand sanitizer featuring Mickey Mouse and baby Yoda from The Mandalorian. The company’s statement was shared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on their website.

The recall was issued after FDA detected the presence of benzene and methanol in the hand sanitizers. The FDA notified Best Brands of the testing results in late February.

Benzene, a human carcinogen is detected in The Mandalorian branded product and methanol in the Mickey Mouse product. Substantial exposure to benzene may lead to leukemia, blood cancer of the bone marrow, and life-threatening blood disorders, according to the FDA.

Likewise, methanol exposure can cause serious health problems, including nausea, vomiting, headache, blurred vision, coma, seizures, permanent blindness, permanent damage to the central nervous system, or death.

“Young children who accidentally ingest these products, and adolescents and adults who drink these products as an alcohol (ethanol) substitute, are most at risk for methanol poisoning,” the FDA advised.

The affected lots of hand sanitizer were already removed from sale in April 2021 due to “unrelated commercial reasons.”  Best Brands has yet to receive complaints from customers about the Disney-themed hand sanitizers. A statement from the company noted that both lots were produced by a third-party manufacturer in April and May 2020. 

Customers are warned by the company to stop using and discard any items from lot 20E21 with an expiration date of September 30, 2022, of the Mandalorian sanitizer — which contains 68% ethyl alcohol and is available in green and blue 2.11 fl oz bottles. Mickey Mouse hand sanitizer from lot 20D21 with a June 30, 2022 expiration date comes in blue, 2.11 fl oz bottles.

Customers who have complaints about the product can report their experiences to the FDA’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program.

Source: CNN