FDA expands sanitizers to avoid due to methanol

Kelly Tyko
USA TODAYPublished 5:04 PM EDT Jul 11, 2020The Food and Drug Administration has expanded the number of hand sanitizers to avoid because they may contain methanol, a toxic substance when absorbed through skin or ingested.The FDA now lists on a chart 59 varieties of hand sanitizer that should be avoided, some which have already been recalled, and other products being recommended for recalls as they may contain the potentially fatal ingredient.All of the products in the FDA’s latest methanol update appear to have been produced in Mexico. The FDA says it has “seen a sharp increase in hand sanitizer products that are labeled to contain ethanol (also known as ethyl alcohol) but that have tested positive for methanol contamination.”Save better, spend better:  Money tips and advice delivered right to your inbox. Sign up hereIn June, the FDA warned consumers not to use nine kinds of hand sanitizers because they may contain methanol, and added to the list in early July.”Methanol is not an acceptable active ingredient for hand sanitizers and must not be used due to its toxic effects,” the FDA said, noting its investigation of methanol in certain hand sanitizers is ongoing.Tax Day 2020 freebies?: July free food events including 7-Eleven’s Free Slurpee Day have been canceled due to COVID-19’Wearing a mask is not about fear’: Retailer group urges governors to require everyone to wear a maskMethanol is used industrially as a solvent, pesticide and alternative fuel source, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Exposure to it can cause nausea, vomiting, headache, blurred vision, permanent blindness, seizures, coma, permanent damage to the nervous system and death.The CDC says hand-washing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds is the best way to clean your hands, but when that’s not an option, the agency recommends using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.Children who accidentally ingest hand sanitizer and young people who drink hand sanitizer as an alcohol substitute are at an increased risk for methanol poisoning, the FDA said. Hand sanitizer has been a popular product to combat the coronavirus since February, and many new types have entered the market after shortages of brands including Purell.Avoid these hand sanitizers that may contain methanolThe FDA is advising consumers not to use the following hand sanitizers because tests found them to contain methanol or that they were “purportedly made at the same facility as products in which FDA has tested and confirmed methanol contamination.”  The FDA also says to avoid sanitizers from the companies.Find more information, including the product code where available on the FDA website.4E Global’s Blumen Clear Advanced Hand Sanitizer with 70% Alcohol4E Global’s Blumen Advanced Instant Hand Sanitizer Clear Ethyl Alcohol 70%4E Global’s BLUMEN Advanced Instant Hand Sanitizer Clear4E Global’s KLAR AND DANVER Instant Hand Sanitizer (labeled with Greenbrier International Inc.)4E Global’s MODESA Instant Hand Sanitizer Moisturizers and Vitamin E4E Global’s BLUMEN Advanced Hand Sanitizer4E Global’s BLUMEN Advanced Hand Sanitizer Aloe4E Global’s BLUMEN Advanced Instant Hand Sanitizer Lavender4E Global’s BLUMEN Clear LEAR Advanced Hand Sanitizer4E Global’s BLUEMEN Clear Advanced Hand Sanitizer4E Global’s The Honeykeeper Hand Sanitizer4E Global’s BLUMEN Advanced Hand Sanitizer Clear4E Global’s BLUMEN Clear Advanced Instant Hand Sanitizer4E Global’s BLUMEN Clear Advanced Instant Hand Sanitizer Aloe4E Global’s BLUMEN Clear Advanced Instant Hand Sanitizer Lavender4E Global’s BLUMEN Aloe Advanced Hand Sanitizer, with 70 Alcohol4E Global’s Blumen Advanced Hand Sanitizer Lavender, with 70% alcohol4E Global’s Blumen Advanced Hand Sanitizer Aloe, with 70% alcohol4E Global’s Blumen Antibacterial Fresh Citrus Hand Sanitizer4E Global’s Blumen Hand Sanitizer Fresh Citrus4E Global’s KLAR and DANVER INSTANT HAND SANTIZER4E Global’s Hello Kitty by Sanrio Hand Sanitizer4E Global’s Assured Instant Hand Sanitizer (Vitamin E and Aloe)4E Global’s Assured Instant Hand Sanitizer (Aloe and Moisturizers)4E Global’s Assured Instant Hand Sanitizer Vitamin E and Aloe4E Global’s Assured Instant Hand Sanitizer Aloe and Moisturizers4E Global’s BLUMEN Instant Hand Sanitizer Fragrance Free4E Global’s BLUMEN Instant Hand Sanitizer Aloe Vera4E Global’s Assured AloeAAA Cosmetica’s bio aaa Advance Hand Sanitizer AAA Cosmetica’s LumiSkin Advance Hand Sanitizer 4 ozAAA Cosmetica’s LumiSkin Advance Hand Sanitizer 16 ozAAA Cosmetica’s QualitaMed Hand Sanitizer  DDI Multinacional’s Earths Amenities Instant Unscented Hand Sanitizer with Aloe Vera AdvancedDDI Multinacional’s Hand Sanitizer Agavespa SkincareDDI Multinacional’s Vidanos Easy Cleaning Rentals Hand Sanitizer Agavespa SkincareEskbiochem’s All-Clean Hand SanitizerEskbiochem’s Esk Biochem Hand SanitizerEskbiochem’s Lavar 70 Gel Hand SanitizerEskbiochem’s The Good Gel Antibacterial Gel Hand SanitizerEskbiochem’s CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 80% AlcoholEskbiochem’s CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 75% AlcoholEskbiochem’s CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 80% AlcoholEskbiochem’s  Saniderm Advanced Hand SanitizerGrupo Insoma’s Hand sanitizer Gel Unscented 70% AlcoholLimpo Quimicos’ Andy’s BestLimpo Quimicos’ Andy’sLimpo Quimicos’ GelclorLimpo Quimicos’ NeoNaturalLimpo Quimicos’ Plus AdvancedLiqesa Exportacion or Liq-E-S.A.’s Optimus Lubricants Instant Hand SanitizerMaquiladora Miniara’s Shine and Clean Hand SanitizerMaquiladora Miniara’s Selecto Hand SanitizerMystic International’s Mystic Shield Protection hand sanitizerSoluciones Cosmeticas’ Bersih Hand Sanitizer Gel Fragrance FreeSoluciones Cosmeticas’ Antiseptic Alcohol 70% Topical Solution hand sanitizerSoluciones Cosmeticas’ Hand sanitizer (labeled with Wet Look Janitorial and Gardening Corp.)Tropicosmeticos’ Britz Hand Sanitizer Ethyl Alcohol 70%Yara Elena De La Garza Perez Nieto’s DAESI hand sanitizerRecalled hand sanitizersThe following products have been recalled as of July 11:ITECH 361’s All Clean Hand Sanitizer, Moisturizer and Disinfectant: UPC code 628055370130.Transliquid Technologies’ Mystic Shield Protection hand sanitizer: NDC numbers include 75477-435-02, 75477-435-10, 75477-435-12, 75477-435-25, 75477-435-50 and 75477-534-10.Saniderm Advanced Hand Sanitizer, 1-liter bottles: Two distributors. The UVT hand sanitizer is labeled with lot number 0530 and an expiration date of 04/2022 and the Saniderm Products hand sanitizer is labeled with lot number 53131626 and “Manufactured on April/1/20.”Contributing: Elinor AspegrenFollow USA TODAY reporter Kelly Tyko on Twitter: @KellyTyko


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