The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is advising consumers not to use certain hand sanitizer products due to the potential presence of methanol.
Samples of hand sanitizers manufactured by Eskbiochem SA de DV in Mexico were found to contain methanol which is toxic when ingested or absorbed through the skin, according to the FDA.
Methanol is used in fuel, solvents and antifreeze and is poisonous to humans.
At the start of the coronavirus outbreak, stores could hardly keep hand sanitizer stocked on shelves. Now, having access to the ubiquitous product could be a matter of life and death.
A press release from the FDA states that officials contacted Eskbiochem on Wednesday and recommended the company remove its hand sanitizer products from market shelves due the risk of methanol poisoning.
According to the release the products were still on shelves as of Friday.
Symptoms of methanol poisoning include nausea, vomiting, headache, blurred vision, permanent blindness and seizures, and could lead to coma, damage to the nervous system and death, the FDA said.
Consumers should dispose of these products immediately in hazardous waste containers. “Do not flush or pour these products down the drain,” they added.
The list of products that may contain methanol are:
- All-Clean Hand Sanitizer (NDC: 74589-002-01)
- Esk Biochem Hand Sanitizer (NDC: 74589-007-01)
- CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 75% Alcohol (NDC: 74589-008-04)
- Lavar 70 Gel Hand Sanitizer (NDC: 74589-006-01)
- The Good Gel Antibacterial Gel Hand Sanitizer (NDC: 74589-010-10)
- CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 80% Alcohol (NDC: 74589-005-03)
- CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 75% Alcohol (NDC: 74589-009-01)
- CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 80% Alcohol (NDC: 74589-003-01)
- Saniderm Advanced Hand Sanitizer (NDC: 74589-001-01)
