WASHINGTON (WBAP/KLIF News) – Consumers nationwide are being warned against using nine brands of hand sanitizer that may contain methanol, or wood alcohol, a substance that can be potentially lethal when absorbed through the skin or ingested.
The Food and Drug Administration announced the warning at a time when hand sanitizers are in heavy demand amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The hand sanitizer is manufactured by Eskbiochem SA de CV in Mexico.
These are the products consumers are being told to avoid:
- 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)
The FDA is urging anyone who has been exposed to hand sanitizer containing methanol to seek immediate treatment, which is vital to be able to reverse the toxic effects of methanol poisoning.
Symptoms from poisoning includes nausea, vomiting, headache, blurred vision, permanent blindness, seizures, coma, permanent damage to the nervous system or death.
The FDA said it contacted Eskbiochem on June 17, 2020 to recommend the company remove its hand sanitizer products from the market due to the risks associated with methanol poisoning.
The administration said to date, Eskbiochem has not taken action to remove the products.
In addition to refraining from buying the products, the FDA is urging consumers to dispose of them immediately in appropriate hazardous waste containers and to not flush or pour the products down the drain.
So far, no one has reported getting poisoned from the products.
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