Number of ‘toxic’ hand sanitizers further increases to 59, FDA warns

• The FDA’s list of hand sanitizers to avoid has grown to a total of 59.
• The agency warned that these hand sanitizers contain methanol, a type of wood alcohol that can be toxic when absorbed through the skin.
• The FDA advised consumers to avoid hand sanitizer products that contain methanol and opt for those that contain at least 60% ethanol.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has identified several ‘toxic’ hand sanitizers in recent weeks.

These hand sanitizers, the FDA warns, contain methanol, a type of wood alcohol that can be toxic when absorbed through the skin.

On June 19, the agency issued a press release that listed nine hand sanitizers manufactured by Eskbiochem SA de CV, which were found to contain methanol.

The FDA stated that they 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%

The list further expanded to include several dozen more products by July 8.

The products either contained methanol or were manufactured in a facility where other contaminated products were made and were therefore recommended for recall.

Here are some of the brands included in the list:

• Assured Instant Hand Sanitizer
• Blumen Clear Advanced Hand Sanitizer
• Hello Kitty by Sanrio Hand Sanitizer
• KLAR AND DANVER Instant Hand Sanitizer (labeled with Greenbrier International Inc.)
• LumiSkin Advance Hand Sanitizer
• MODESA Instant Hand Sanitizer Moisturizers and Vitamin E
• The Honeykeeper Hand Sanitizer

The FDA has since listed a total of 59 types of hand sanitizer to avoid.

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. The company is yet to take action, however. It is currently unclear where these products are being sold.

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. Parents are advised to keep watch over young children, who may accidentally ingest these. Adolescents and adults, meanwhile, are warned against drinking “these products as an alcohol (ethanol) substitute.”

Make sure to avoid hand sanitizer products that contain methanol and opt for those that contain at least 60% ethanol.

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

Source: Aol.com