The use of hand sanitizer has been on the rise in recent months, and now it looks like some of these products may be dangerous. In June of 2020, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning to consumers about some hand sanitizers that may contain methanol, which is a toxic substance that can be absorbed through the skin or ingested. Many of these products have been voluntarily recalled because they contain the potentially fatal substance.
Toxic Methanol
The FDA has seen a sharp increase in hand sanitizers that are labeled to contain ethanol, but when tested, they are found to contain methanol contamination. Methanol can be life-threatening if ingested and toxic if absorbed through the skin. Methanol is used industrially as an alternative fuel source and as a pesticide. You are most likely to get methanol poisoning if you ingest contaminated hand sanitizer. The FDA recommends avoiding sanitizers that are marketed to look like drinks, candy, or liquor bottles as children are more likely to ingest them.
According to the FDA, methanol exposure can result in nausea, vomiting, headache, blurred vision, permanent blindness, seizures, coma, permanent damage to the nervous system, or death. If you are experiencing symptoms of methanol poisoning, you should seek immediate treatment for a potential reversal.
Recalled Hand Sanitizers
The following hand sanitizers have been voluntarily recalled by the manufacturers:
- ITECH 361’s All Clean Hand Sanitizer, Moisturizer, and Disinfectant
- Transliquid Technologies’ Mystic Shield Protection Hand Sanitizer
- Saniderm Advanced Hand Sanitizer
Other Dangerous Products
In addition to the recalled products, the FDA is warning that they have tested other sanitizers and discovered methanol contamination. They are warning consumers against the use of the following products:
- Grupo Insoma’s Hand Sanitizer Gel Unscented 70% Alcohol
- Soluciones Cosmeticas’ Bersih Hand Sanitizer Gel Fragrance Free
- Soluciones Cosmeticas’ Antiseptic Alcohol 70% Topical Solution Hand Sanitizer
- Tropicocosmetico’s Britz Hand Sanitizer Ethyl Alcohol 70%
Contact a Dangerous Products Attorney
If you’ve been injured by the use of contaminated hand sanitizer, you should have your case evaluated by an experienced product liability attorney. The attorneys at Bonina & Bonina, P.C., have been helping the victims of dangerous products for over 50 years. Contact us online or call us at 1-888-MEDLAW1 to schedule your free consultation. Home and hospital visits are available. Se habla español.