FDA expands list of hand sanitizers to avoid due to methanol risk with more being recommended for recall
The Food and Drug Administration has expanded the number of hand sanitizers to avoid because they may contain methanol, a toxic substance when absorbed through skin or ingested.
The FDA now lists on a chart 59 varieties of hand sanitizer that should be avoided, some which have already been recalled, and other products being recommended for recalls as they may contain the potentially fatal ingredient.
All of the products in the FDA's latest methanol update appear to have been produced in Mexico.
The FDA says it has "seen a sharp increase in hand sanitizer products that are labeled to contain ethanol (also known as ethyl alcohol) but that have tested positive for methanol contamination."
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In June, the FDA warned consumers not to use nine kinds of hand sanitizers because they may contain methanol, and added to the list in early July.
"Methanol is not an acceptable active ingredient for hand sanitizers and must not be used due to its toxic effects," the FDA said, noting its investigation of methanol in certain hand sanitizers is ongoing.
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Methanol is used industrially as a solvent, pesticide and alternative fuel source, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Exposure to it can cause nausea, vomiting, headache, blurred vision, permanent blindness, seizures, coma, permanent damage to the nervous system and death.
The CDC says hand-washing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds is the best way to clean your hands, but when that's not an option, the agency recommends using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
Children who accidentally ingest hand sanitizer and young people who drink hand sanitizer as an alcohol substitute are at an increased risk for methanol poisoning, the FDA said.
Hand sanitizer has been a popular product to combat the coronavirus since February, and many new types have entered the market after shortages of brands including Purell.
Avoid these hand sanitizers that may contain methanol
The FDA is advising consumers not to use the following hand sanitizers because tests found them to contain methanol or that they were "purportedly made at the same facility as products in which FDA has tested and confirmed methanol contamination." The FDA also says to avoid sanitizers from the companies.
Find more information, including the product code where available on the FDA website.
4E Global's Blumen Clear Advanced Hand Sanitizer with 70% Alcohol
4E Global's Blumen Advanced Instant Hand Sanitizer Clear Ethyl Alcohol 70%
4E Global's BLUMEN Advanced Instant Hand Sanitizer Clear
4E Global's KLAR AND DANVER Instant Hand Sanitizer (labeled with Greenbrier International Inc.)
4E Global's MODESA Instant Hand Sanitizer Moisturizers and Vitamin E
4E Global's BLUMEN Advanced Hand Sanitizer
4E Global's BLUMEN Advanced Hand Sanitizer Aloe
4E Global's BLUMEN Advanced Instant Hand Sanitizer Lavender
4E Global's BLUMEN Clear LEAR Advanced Hand Sanitizer
4E Global's BLUEMEN Clear Advanced Hand Sanitizer
4E Global's The Honeykeeper Hand Sanitizer
4E Global's BLUMEN Advanced Hand Sanitizer Clear
4E Global's BLUMEN Clear Advanced Instant Hand Sanitizer
4E Global's BLUMEN Clear Advanced Instant Hand Sanitizer Aloe
4E Global's BLUMEN Clear Advanced Instant Hand Sanitizer Lavender
4E Global's BLUMEN Aloe Advanced Hand Sanitizer, with 70 Alcohol
4E Global's Blumen Advanced Hand Sanitizer Lavender, with 70% alcohol
4E Global's Blumen Advanced Hand Sanitizer Aloe, with 70% alcohol
4E Global's Blumen Antibacterial Fresh Citrus Hand Sanitizer
4E Global's Blumen Hand Sanitizer Fresh Citrus
4E Global's KLAR and DANVER INSTANT HAND SANTIZER
4E Global's Hello Kitty by Sanrio Hand Sanitizer
4E Global's Assured Instant Hand Sanitizer (Vitamin E and Aloe)
4E Global's Assured Instant Hand Sanitizer (Aloe and Moisturizers)
4E Global's Assured Instant Hand Sanitizer Vitamin E and Aloe
4E Global's Assured Instant Hand Sanitizer Aloe and Moisturizers
4E Global's BLUMEN Instant Hand Sanitizer Fragrance Free
4E Global's BLUMEN Instant Hand Sanitizer Aloe Vera
4E Global's Assured Aloe
AAA Cosmetica's bio aaa Advance Hand Sanitizer
AAA Cosmetica's LumiSkin Advance Hand Sanitizer 4 oz
AAA Cosmetica's LumiSkin Advance Hand Sanitizer 16 oz
AAA Cosmetica's QualitaMed Hand Sanitizer
DDI Multinacional's Earths Amenities Instant Unscented Hand Sanitizer with Aloe Vera Advanced
DDI Multinacional's Hand Sanitizer Agavespa Skincare
DDI Multinacional's Vidanos Easy Cleaning Rentals Hand Sanitizer Agavespa Skincare
Eskbiochem's All-Clean Hand Sanitizer
Eskbiochem's Esk Biochem Hand Sanitizer
Eskbiochem's Lavar 70 Gel Hand Sanitizer
Eskbiochem's The Good Gel Antibacterial Gel Hand Sanitizer
Eskbiochem's CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 80% Alcohol
Eskbiochem's CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 75% Alcohol
Eskbiochem's CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 80% Alcohol
Eskbiochem's Saniderm Advanced Hand Sanitizer
Grupo Insoma's Hand sanitizer Gel Unscented 70% Alcohol
Limpo Quimicos' Andy’s Best
Limpo Quimicos' Andy’s
Limpo Quimicos' Gelclor
Limpo Quimicos' NeoNatural
Limpo Quimicos' Plus Advanced
Liqesa Exportacion or Liq-E-S.A.'s Optimus Lubricants Instant Hand Sanitizer
Maquiladora Miniara's Shine and Clean Hand Sanitizer
Maquiladora Miniara's Selecto Hand Sanitizer
Mystic International's Mystic Shield Protection hand sanitizer
Soluciones Cosmeticas’ Bersih Hand Sanitizer Gel Fragrance Free
Soluciones Cosmeticas’ Antiseptic Alcohol 70% Topical Solution hand sanitizer
Soluciones Cosmeticas’ Hand sanitizer (labeled with Wet Look Janitorial and Gardening Corp.)
Tropicosmeticos' Britz Hand Sanitizer Ethyl Alcohol 70%
Yara Elena De La Garza Perez Nieto's DAESI hand sanitizer
Recalled hand sanitizers
The following products have been recalled as of July 11:
ITECH 361's All Clean Hand Sanitizer, Moisturizer and Disinfectant: UPC code 628055370130.
Transliquid Technologies' Mystic Shield Protection hand sanitizer: NDC numbers include 75477-435-02, 75477-435-10, 75477-435-12, 75477-435-25, 75477-435-50 and 75477-534-10.
Saniderm Advanced Hand Sanitizer, 1-liter bottles: Two distributors. The UVT hand sanitizer is labeled with lot number 0530 and an expiration date of 04/2022 and the Saniderm Products hand sanitizer is labeled with lot number 53131626 and “Manufactured on April/1/20.”
Contributing: Elinor Aspegren
Follow USA TODAY reporter Kelly Tyko on Twitter: @KellyTyko
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Hand sanitizer recall: FDA expands sanitizers to avoid due to methanol