Number of hand sanitizers to avoid increases to 14, FDA warns

• A total of 14 hand sanitizers have been found to contain methanol, a type of wood alcohol that can be toxic when absorbed through the skin.
• The FDA recommended the recall of the products and warned against their use.
• The agency advised avoiding products that contain methanol when buying hand sanitizers.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently identified several hand sanitizers that contain methanol, a type of wood alcohol that can be toxic when absorbed through the skin.

On June 19, the agency found that nine hand sanitizer products manufactured by Eskbiochem SA de CV contained methanol.

FDA tested samples of CleanCare No Germ and Lavar Gel. They found that Lavar Gel “contains 81% methanol and no ethyl alcohol,” while CleanCare No Germ “contains 28% methanol.”

The agency found five additional hand sanitizer products containing methanol in early July.

The products are as follows:

• Grupo Insoma’s Hand Sanitizer Gel Unscented, 70% alcohol
• Soluciones Cosmeticas’ Bersih Hand Sanitizer Gel Fragrance Free and Antiseptic Alcohol 70% Topical Solution Hand Sanitizer
• Transliquid Technologies’ Mystic Shield Protection Hand Sanitizer
• Tropicosmeticos’ Britz Hand Sanitizer Ethyl Alcohol 70%

FDA warned: “Methanol is not an acceptable ingredient for hand sanitizers and should not be used due to its toxic effects.”

Anyone who has been exposed to products containing methanol is advised to “seek immediate treatment, which is critical for potential reversal of toxic effects of methanol poisoning,” the agency added.

The FDA contacted Eskbiochem on June 17 to recommend the recall of its hand sanitizer products due to their methanol content.

Symptoms of “substantial methanol exposure” may include headache, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, permanent blindness, seizures, coma, permanent damage to the nervous system, or even death.

The FDA warned against ingesting these products. Young children may accidentally ingest these while some adolescents and adults “drink these products as an alcohol (ethanol) substitute.”

Make sure to avoid products that contain methanol when buying hand sanitizers. Choose the ones that contain at least 60% ethanol.

The best way to sanitize your hands is still by washing them with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, the FDA advises.

Source: Aol.com