FDA Warns Consumers to Avoid Toxic Hand Sanitizers Due to Presence of Methanol
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned the public in an updated statement to avoid buying and using certain brands of hand sanitizer due to the presence of methanol within the products.
With limited quantities of hand sanitizers from brands such as Purell, various other types of hand sanitizers—both domestic and imported—have come on to the market. Although these products are packaged and labeled as containing ethanol, these products have tested positive for methanol.
Methanol, also known as wood alcohol, is a type of substance that is toxic if it is absorbed through the skin. If it is ingested, it could be life-threatening.
The FDA listed brands and products that have tested positive for methanol, with a total of 77 separate products listed. The most recent discovery of methanol-positive hand sanitizer came from a brand that imports products from Mexico, Liq-E SA de CV.
