Consumers are urged NOT to use certain hand sanitizer products recently recalled by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) due to contamination by methanol.
Methyl alcohol known as “METHANOL,” is primarily used as an industrial solvent. Absorption through your skin or ingestion of methanol contained in hand sanitizers may cause nausea, vomiting, headache, blurred vision, permanent blindness, seizures, coma, permanent damage to the nervous system or even death.
The following popular brands, among others, have recalled some of their products:
- BLUMEN,
- Assured,
- AllClean, and
- Saniderm.
Consumers should visit the FDA’s “Do-Not-Use” list of hand sanitizers online for a complete, updated list of recalled products.
If your product is on this list, STOP using the product and dispose it immediately in appropriate hazardous waste containers; do not flush or pour them down the drain. Contact the seller for a refund.
Ethyl alcohol or “ETHANOL” is the main active ingredient of safe Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizer. It works at concentrations between 60% to 90% when it stays on your skin for at least 20 seconds until it air dries. It should be used only on visibly clean hands and when soap and water are not available.