The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has just expanded a list of hand sanitizers for consumers to avoid because the products may contain methanol. Methanol, or wood alcohol, can be toxic to humans when absorbed through the skin or ingested.
Methanol contamination
The FDA has recently seen a surge in hand sanitizer products claiming to contain ethanol (or ethyl alcohol), a common hand sanitizer product, but are actually using methanol, a toxic ingredient.
Methanol is found in alternative fuels, antifreeze, solvents, and pesticides. Absorption of methanol can lead to a variety of toxic symptoms including nausea and vomiting, headaches, and blurred vision. In more serious instances, methanol poisoning can lead to permanent blindness, seizures, coma, permanent damage to the nervous system, and even death.
“The agency is aware of adults and children ingesting hand sanitizer products contaminated with methanol that has led to recent adverse events including blindness, hospitalizations and death,” according to an official statement. “Methanol is not an acceptable active ingredient for hand sanitizers and must not be used due to its toxic effects. FDA’s investigation of methanol in certain hand sanitizers is ongoing.”
A growing list of problematic products
Currently, there are 59 different hand sanitizers on the FDA’s updated list of toxic products. Several of the sanitizer products were manufactured in Mexico. While some of the contaminated products have already been voluntarily recalled, the FDA is recommending recalls for those that have not.
The FDA sounded the alarm about methanol-contaminated hand sanitizers back in June, when the agency issued an initial warning about 9 hand sanitizer products.
Other potential production issues
In addition to the current concern over methanol poisoning, the FDA has also issued a list of other potential quality issues surrounding hand sanitizer production to investigate, including:
- Products that do not contain a sufficient amount (at least 60%) of ethyl alcohol or isopropyl alcohol.
- Products advertising false claims, like the prevention of the spread of viruses like COVID-19.
- Products advertising misleading, unproven claims like prolonged protection (i.e. for up to 24-hours).
- Products marketed as “FDA-approved,” as there are no FDA-approved hand sanitizers.
- Products packaged to look like drinks or candy, which could encourage consumption.
Next steps in protecting the public
The FDA is instructing consumers to dispose of any of the contaminated hand sanitizer products immediately, in appropriate hazardous waste containers. Products should not be flushed or rinsed down the drain.
If consumers come in contact with one of the contaminated products or methanol, they should immediately seek medical treatment.
Problems, quality issues, or adverse effects regarding the use of hand sanitizers can be reported to the FDA’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program.
The most up-to-date list of the FDA’s contaminated hand sanitizer products to avoid can be found here.
