What started as a list of nine hand sanitizers in late June has sharply grown to more than 100, and just about every product was manufactured and bottled in Mexico, the federal agency’s website states.
The FDA says methanol is not an approved ingredient for hand sanitizers as it has highly-toxic effects.
“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,” the FDA stated.
Here is the updated list of more than 100 Do-Not-Use products, according to the FDA.
Methanol can seep through the skin and lead to toxicity in someone’s blood, and can be lethal if ingested orally.
“Consumers who have been exposed to hand sanitizer containing methanol and are experiencing symptoms should seek immediate treatment for potential reversal of toxic effects of methanol poisoning,” the FDA said.
Those symptoms include:
NauseaVomitingHeadacheBlurred visionPermanent blindnessSeizuresComaPermanent damage to the nervous systemDeath
“Although all persons using these products on their hands are at risk for methanol poisoning, young children who accidentally ingest these products and adolescents and adults who drink these products as an alcohol (ethanol) substitute, are most at risk,” the FDA said.
Though hand sanitizer is commonly recommended to help keep your hands clean while in public—or even inside your home—so many of them have been discovered to have methanol, which can be toxic if either ingested or infiltrated wrongly through skin.
For people wanting to continuously stay clean, the FDA and CDC recommend that you wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds—as needed, or several times a day—and to practice good hygiene. Hand sanitizers are recommended while in public, as long as the product contains at least 60 percent ethanol.
The FDA has advised people to not use certain hand sanitizers that are manufactured in Mexico,.
The agency recommends removing products from the “do-not-use” list by placing them in hazardous waste containers, and warns to not dump them down a drain.
Hand sanitizers became a hot commodity as spreading of COVID-19 during the global pandemic led to fears, shutdowns and more awareness of cleanliness.
The FDA says that hand sanitizers must contain at least 60 percent alcohol to be effective, as long as it isn’t wood alcohol, otherwise known as methanol.
“FDA remains vigilant and will continue to take action when quality issues arise with hand sanitizers,” it said. “Additionally, the agency is concerned with false and misleading claims for hand sanitizers, for example that they can provide prolonged protection such as 24-hours against viruses including COVID-19, since there is no evidence to support these claims.”
Here list of hand sanitizers the FDA says to not use:
