FDA Warns Against 149 Potentially Toxic Hand Sanitizers
The list of problematic hand sanitizer brands increased sharply from nine on June 19 to 149 on August 13.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has dramatically increased the number of potentially toxic hand sanitizers consumers need to avoid.
The agency first took action on June 19, 2020, when it advised consumers to avoid nine products manufactured by Mexico-based Eskbiochem SA de CV due to risk of methanol contamination. Further warnings followed on June 29 about another product by that manufacturer, hand sanitizer packaged in one-liter bottles from Saniderm Products for the same reason.
That was just the beginning. In less than two weeks the list of problematic products increased more than sixfold, to 59 by July 2. On August 13, the number had climbed to 149.
The active ingredient in safe and effective hand sanitizer is ethanol (i.e., ethyl alcohol), not methanol (i.e., ‘wood alcohol’), which can be toxic to humans if absorbed through the skin or ingested. The FDA says it has seen a sharp increase in hand sanitizer products labeled to contain ethanol but testing positive for methanol contamination.
The FDA also warns consumers that substantial exposure to methanol can result in nausea, vomiting, headache, blurred vision, permanent blindness, seizures, coma, permanent damage to the nervous system or death.
The full list of potentially harmful hand sanitizers
At the time of publication, the list of hand sanitizer brands to avoid include:
- Blumen Clear Advanced Hand Sanitizer with 70% Alcohol
- Blumen Advanced Instant Hand Sanitizer Clear Ethyl Alcohol 70%
- BLUMEN Advanced Instant Hand Sanitizer Clear
- BLUMEN Advanced Instant Hand Sanitizer Clear
- KLAR AND DANVER Instant Hand Sanitizer
- MODESA Instant Hand Sanitizer Moisturizers and Vitamin E
- BLUMEN Advanced Hand Sanitizer
- BLUMEN Advanced Hand Sanitizer
- BLUMEN Advanced Hand Sanitizer Aloe
- BLUMEN Advanced Instant Hand Sanitizer Lavender
- BLUMEN Clear Advanced Hand Sanitizer
- BLUMEN Clear Advanced Hand Sanitizer
- BLUMEN Clear LEAR Advanced Hand Sanitizer
- BLUMEN Clear LEAR Advanced Hand Sanitizer
- The Honeykeeper Hand Sanitizer
- BLUMEN Advanced Hand Sanitizer Clear
- BLUMEN Clear Advanced Instant Hand Sanitizer
- BLUMEN Clear Advanced Instant Hand Sanitizer Aloe
- BLUMEN Clear Advanced Instant Hand Sanitizer Lavender
- BLUMEN Aloe Advanced Hand Sanitizer, with 70 Alcohol
- BLUMEN Aloe Advanced Hand Sanitizer, with 70 Alcohol
- Blumen Advanced Hand Sanitizer Lavender, with 70% alcohol
- Blumen Advanced Hand Sanitizer Aloe, with 70% alcohol
- Blumen Antibacterial Fresh Citrus Hand Sanitizer
- Blumen Hand Sanitizer Fresh Citrus
- KLAR and DANVER Instant Hand Sanitizer
- Hello Kitty Hand Sanitizer
- Assured Instant Hand Sanitizer (Vitamin E and Aloe)
- Assured Instant Hand Sanitizer (Aloe and Moisturizers)
- Assured Instant Hand Sanitizer Vitamin E and Aloe
- Assured Instant Hand Sanitizer Aloe and Moisturizers
- BLUMEN Instant Hand Sanitizer Fragrance Free
- BLUMEN Instant Hand Sanitizer Aloe Vera
- Assured Aloe
- bio aaa Advance Hand Sanitizer
- LumiSkin Advance Hand Sanitizer
- LumiSkin Advance Hand Sanitizer
- QualitaMed Hand Sanitizer
- NEXT Hand Sanitizer
- NuuxSan Instant Antibacterial Hand Sanitizer
- NuuxSan Instant Hand Sanitizer
- Assured Instant Antiseptic Hand Sanitizer with Aloe and Moisturizers
- Assured Instant Antiseptic Hand Sanitizer with Vitamin E and Aloe
- Modesa Instant Antiseptic Hand Sanitizer with Moisturizers and Aloe Vera
- Modesa Instant Antiseptic Hand Sanitizer with Moisturizers and Vitamin E
- V-KLEAN Hand Sanitizer Gel
- V-KLEAN Hand Sanitizer Gel
- V-KLEAN Hand Sanitizer Gel
- V-KLEAN Hand Sanitizer Gel
- Derma70 Hand Sanitizer
- V-KLEAN
- Medically Minded Hand Sanitizer Gel
- Protz Real Protection Antibacterial Hand Sanitizer
- Alcohol Antiseptic 80% topical solution hand sanitizer
- Inatek Hand Sanitizer Non-Sterile Solution 70% of Alcohol
- All Clear Hand Sanitizer Fragrance Free
- Total Pure Alcohol Based Hand Sanitizer Gel
- 70% Alcohol Gel Hand Sanitizer
- ResQue 1st Instant Hand Sanitizer
- 70% Alcohol Gel Hand Sanitizer
- 70% Alcohol Gel Hand Sanitizer
- Herbacil Antiseptic Hand Sanitizer 70% Alcohol
- Herbacil Antiseptic Hand Sanitizer 70% Alcohol
- Herbacil Antiseptic Hand Sanitizer 70% Alcohol
- Earths Amenities Instant Unscented Hand Sanitizer with Aloe Vera Advanced
- Hand Sanitizer Agavespa Skincare
- Vidanos Easy Cleaning Rentals Hand Sanitizer Agavespa Skincare
- dgreen Advanced Sanitizer Alcohol Free
- dgreen Advanced Hand Sanitizer Antibacterial Gel
- Hand Sanitizer
- Hand Sanitizer Gel
- Clean Humans Hand Sanitizer
- CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 75% Alcohol
- Lavar 70 Gel Hand Sanitizer
- All-Clean Hand Sanitizer
- Esk Biochem Hand Sanitizer
- The Good Gel Antibacterial Gel Hand Sanitizer
- CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 80% Alcohol
- CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 80% Alcohol
- Saniderm Advanced Hand Sanitizer
- OZO Hand Sanitizer, Luxury Formula
- Hand sanitizer Gel Unscented 70% Alcohol
- Hand sanitizer Gel Unscented 70% Alcohol
- M Hand Sanitizer Alcohol Antiseptic topical solution 80% Topical Solution Hand Sanitizer
- Jalisco Paper Inc Restaurant Supplies Hand Sanitizer
- O.K. Pharmacy Hand Sanitizer
- Hand Sanitizer Alcohol Antiseptic topical solution 80%
- Alcohol Antiseptic 75% Topical Solution Hand Sanitizer
- HF&N Lab Medi Care Alcohol Antiseptic Topical Solution
- GelBac T Hand Sanitizer
- Hand Sanitizer (Incredible Products SA de CV)
- TriCleanz (Labeled with “Made in Mexico”)
- OZO Hand Sanitizer
- Sayab Antisepctic Hand Sanitizer 100
- Jaloma Antiseptic Hand Sanitizer Ethyl Alcohol 62% with Vitamin E
- Leiper’s Fork Distillery Bulk Disinfectant per 5 gallon and Leiper’s Fork Distillery 16 oz bottle
- Andy’s Best
- Andy’s
- NeoNatural
- Plus Advanced
- Optimus Instant Hand Sanitizer
- Optimus Lubricants Instant Hand Sanitizer
- Optimus Instant Hand Sanitizer
- Selecto Hand Sanitizer
- Shine and Clean Hand Sanitizer
- Hand Sanitizer Disinfectant Gel 70% Ethyl Alcohol
- Hand Sanitizer Disinfectant Gel 70% Ethyl Alcohol Rinse Free Hand Rub
- Mystic Shield Protection hand sanitizer
- Greenfrog Hand Sanitizer
- Greenfrog Hand Sanitizing wipes
- Medical Mary Clean Hand Sanitizer
- AMX Instant Hand Sanitizer
- Always Be Clean Hand Sanitizer
- Just Hand Sanitizer Single Use Packs
- BV BYE Virus 99
- In Good Hands Hand Sanitizer Gel
- CleanCare Nogerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer
- Datsen Hand Sanitizer
- Alcohol Antiseptic 62% Hand Sanitizer
- Bernal Hand Sanitizer
- Alcohol Antiseptic 65% Hand Sanitizer; Alcohol Antiseptic 70% Hand Sanitizer
- Born Basic. Anti-Bac Hand Sanitizer 70% alcohol
- Born Basic. Anti-Bac Hand Sanitizer 65% Alcohol
- Scent Theory – Keep It Clean – Pure Clean Anti-bacterial Hand Sanitizer
- Cavalry (labeled with “Product of Mexico”)
- ENLIVEN Hand Sanitizing Gel
- Lux Eoi Hand Sanitizing Gel
- Scent Theory – Keep It Clean – Pure Clean Anti-bacterial Hand Sanitizer
- Command Gel AntiBac Instant hand sanitizer
- UltraCruz Hand Sanitizing Gel Antimicrobial
- SkinGuard24 All-Day Hand Sanitizer
- Bersih Hand Sanitizer Gel Fragrance Free
- Bersih Antiseptic Alcohol 70% Topical Solution hand sanitizer
- Purity Advanced Hand Sanitizer
- Hand Sanitizer Gel Alcohol 70%
- Lite ’n Foamy Lemon Blossom Hand Sanitizer
- foamyiQ Lemon Blossom Hand Sanitizer
- TriCleanz Tritanium Labs Hand Sanitizer (Labeled with “Made in Mexico”)
- Britz Hand Sanitizer Ethyl Alcohol 70%
- Parabola Hand Sanitizer
- Urbane Bath and Body Hand Sanitizer
- Cleaner Hand Sanitizer Rinse Free 70%
- Handzer Hand Sanitizer Rinse Free
- Kleanz Antibacterial Hand Sanitizer Advanced
- Be Safe Hand Sanitizer
- Wave Hand Sanitizer Gel
- Volu-Sol Handrub Sanitizing Solution
- Leafree Instant Hand Sanitizer
- DAESI Hand Sanitizer
FDA guidelines for safe hand sanitizer use
The FDA “remains vigilant and will continue to take action when quality issues arise with hand sanitizers.” The agency urges consumers to follow these guidelines for safe use of hand sanitizer:
- Never drink hand sanitizer under any conditions.
- Avoid hand sanitizers that do not contain at least 60 percent ethyl alcohol or isopropyl alcohol.
- Avoid hand sanitizers that claim to prevent the spread of viruses such as Covid-19 and those that claim to provide prolonged protection (e.g., for up to 24-hours).
- Avoid any hand sanitizer that are fraudulently marketed as “FDA-approved” (no hand sanitizers are approved by FDA).
- Avoid products packaged to appear as drinks, candy, or liquor bottles, as well as products marketed as drinks or cocktails because their appearance could result in accidental ingestion or encourage ingestion.
How to handle hand sanitizer issues
Those who have been exposed to potentially toxic hand sanitizer and are experiencing symptoms should seek immediate treatment for methanol poisoning. The FDA also encourages health care professionals, consumers and patients to report adverse events or hand sanitizer quality issues to its MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program.
Government health organizations remind consumers to frequently wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after coughing, sneezing, or blowing one’s nose.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration: "Saniderm Products Voluntarily Issues Regional (Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey) Recall of 1 L Saniderm Advanced Hand Sanitizer bottles produced by Eskbiochem SA de CV Due to the Potential Presence of Undeclared Methanol (Wood Alcohol)"
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration: "MedWatch: The FDA Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program"