FDA Issues Warning For Consumers To Avoid 9 Potentially Toxic Hand Sanitizer Brands

Some brands of hand sanitizers being sold out to consumers may contain methanol and pose serious toxicity risks, the Food and Drug Administration in the U.S. said.

According to a report, the FDA released the said statement on June 19 in an effort to warn consumers in and out of the U.S. who may suffer from the after-effects of methanol, also known as methyl alcohol. It said that consumers should not buy hand sanitizer products from Eskbiochem, a manufacturer based in Mexico.

Reportedly, the FDA has discovered that products under nine brands manufactured by Eskbiochem contained methanol - a light, volatile, colourless, flammable liquid that can poison the body when it enters the body by ingestion, inhalation, or absorption through the skin.

Symptoms of toxicity from methanol include headache, dizziness, nausea, lack of coordination, and confusion. However, if sufficiently large quantities enters a human body, it can be fatal and cause unconsciousness or death.

In the letter that it issued, it prohibited the use of methanol as an ingredient in the production of hand sanitizers and body products due to its toxic effects.

The said warning from the FDA called the attention of those who have been producing makeshift alcohols due to a huge demand in sanitizers as the coronavirus pandemic spreads country to country.

The following brands were included in the list of hand sanitizers that contained toxic methanol:

• All-Clean Hand Sanitizer
• Esk Biochem Hand Sanitizer
• CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 75% Alcohol
• Lavar 70 Gel Hand Sanitizer
• The Good Gel Antibacterial Gel Hand Sanitizer
• CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 80% Alcohol
• CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 75% Alcohol
• CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 80% Alcohol
• Saniderm Advanced Hand Sanitizer

Out of the 9 brands listed above, the FDA warned about two specific Eskbiochem hand sanitizer products found to contain the highest levels of methanol: Lavar Gel and CleanCare No Germ which contained 80% and 30% methanol, respectively.

Although there have been no reported cases of methanol poisoning as of June 23, the FDA predicts there may be some unreported exposures from those who have been using the Eskbiochem products or makeshift alcohol.

It added in its statement that persons, especially children, who are suspected of methanol poisoning must seek professional help immediately as there are specific health interventions required to reverse its effects.