Do you know if your hand sanitizer is doing you more harm than good?
The US Food and Drug Administration has singled out several sanitizers made by the Mexican company Eskbiochem for customers to avoid. Reason being: the presence of methanol, or wood alcohol, which can be highly toxic if ingested or absorbed.
Below is the list of sanitizers under scrutiny by the FDA:
*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 says CleanCare NoGerm has 28 percent methanol, while the Lavar Gel has up to 81 percent methanol.
The FDA says substantial methanol exposure can result in nausea, vomiting, headache, blurred vision, permanent blindness, seizures, coma, permanent damage to the nervous system or death, so it’s vitally important for people who use these sanitizers to seek immediate medical attention. Young children who ingest these products and teenagers or adults who drink these products as an alcohol substitute are considered most at risk for methanol poisoning.
If you plan to use a hand sanitizer, the FDA says it should contain at least 60 percent ethanol. Methanol should not be used under any circumstances.
The federal government has asked Eskbiochem to remove the products voluntarily. The company has not taken that step.
