More hand sanitizers recalled as possibly ‘toxic.’ One is sold at Publix and Kroger

David J. Neal
·3 min read

Another batch of hand sanitizer recalls came down Friday, all of which were among the recent additions that pushed the FDA’s Do Not Use hand sanitizer list past 100.

And one of those hand sanitizers was sold throughout the Kroger superchain, comprised of Kroger and 14 other chains. At least one Publix still had it on sale Sunday evening, three days after the manufacturer announced the recall.

Methanol presence determines presence on the FDA’s list for all but one hand sanitizer so far. Warning that methanol aka wood alcohol “can be toxic if absorbed into the skin,” the agency states that hand sanitizers with methanol are unsuitable for the marketplace.

So a positive test for methanol puts a hand sanitizer on the list, puts all the hand sanitizers made in the same facility on that list, possibly gets it put on an “import list” and gets a recall recommended.

The most recent recalls

▪ Albek de Mexico recalled Next Hand Sanitizer, lot numbers that ended in 1001, 1002, 1003, 1004 or 1005; NuuxSan Instant Antibacterial Hand Sanitizer, all lots; Assured Hand Sanitizer with Vitamin E and Aloe, lot No. 1931101AL; Assured Hand Sanitizer Aloe Vera, lot No. 1931102AL; and Modesa Instant Hand Sanitizer with Moisturizers and Aloe Vera, lot No. 1931104AL.

Each was sold in 8-ounce bottles.

Next Hand Sanitizer not only is the Albek hand sanitizer that the FDA said tested positive for methanol, but it’s the one sold throughout the Kroger chain and at Publix.

Sunday night, the Publix at 1920 West Ave. in Miami Beach had a display with several 8-ounce bottles of Next from lot No. 0119001001, UPC code 650240053573.

Sunday night, Next Advanced Hand Sanitizer was still on sale at the Publix at 1920 West Ave. in Miami Beach.
Sunday night, Next Advanced Hand Sanitizer was still on sale at the Publix at 1920 West Ave. in Miami Beach.
The bottles of Next Hand Sanitizer on sale at this Miami Beach Publix were from lot No. 0119001001, which was recalled Thursday by manufacturer Albek de Mexico. The lot number can be seen above the back label.
The bottles of Next Hand Sanitizer on sale at this Miami Beach Publix were from lot No. 0119001001, which was recalled Thursday by manufacturer Albek de Mexico. The lot number can be seen above the back label.

According to Kroger’s website, Next was sold in its stores in Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana (except Southeastern Indiana); Western Kentucky, Eastern Kentucky, Louisville and Lexington; North Carolina; Virginia; Eastern Missouri; Nashville, Memphis and Knoxville in Tennessee; Louisiana; Eastern West Virginia; Huntsville, Alabama; and Texas.

Next also was sold in Kroger-owned Ralphs, Mariano’s, Roundy’s, Dillons, Bakers, Gerbes, King Soopers, City Market, Fry’s, Fred Meyer, Food 4 Less, Foods Co., QFC and Smiths stores.

Any questions about this recall can email contact@albek.com.mx or call Susana Luna at 713-961-0262.

Assured Instant Hand Sanitizer
Assured Instant Hand Sanitizer
Nuuxsan Instant Hand Sanitizer
Nuuxsan Instant Hand Sanitizer
The box for Modesa Hand Sanitizer
The box for Modesa Hand Sanitizer

▪ Laboratorios Jaloma recalled Jaloma Antiseptic Hand Sanitizer Ethyl Alcohol 62% with Vitamin E because it tested as having methanol. For the 4-ounce bottles, this covers lot Nos. 0005412, expiration April 2022; 0007134 and 0007834, expiration May 2022; and 0009239, expiration June 2022. The 16.9-ounce bottles recalled are lot Nos. 0005295, expiring in April 2022, and 0006373, expiring in May 2022.

Those with questions about this recall can email asuntoregulatorios@jaloma.com.mx or call + 52 1 800 120 0202 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Eastern time.

Jaloma Antiseptic Hand Sanitizer Ethyl Alcohol 62% With vitamin E
Jaloma Antiseptic Hand Sanitizer Ethyl Alcohol 62% With vitamin E

Others added to the FDA’s Do-Not-Use List

▪ In addition to the above Albek de Mexico-made products, there are Clear Advanced Hand Sanitizer with 70% Alcohol extra soft with glycerin and aloe; NuuxSan Instant Hand Sanitizer (not the same as the above); and Modesa Instant Antiseptic Hand Sanitizer with Moisturizers and Aloe Vera.

Albek claims in the recall announcement for the other hand sanitizers that this Modesa hand sanitizer never was produced.

▪ The FDA found the ethanol alcohol level “subpotent” in Healthy Foods & Nutrition Lab of Mexico’s Medicare Alcohol Antiseptic Topical Solution.

▪ Incredible Products’ GelBact Hand Sanitizer tested as having methanol. That put TriCleanz and Incredible Products hand sanitizers on the list by association.

▪ JG Atlas Comercios’ Sayab Antisepctic Hand Sanitizer 100 tested as having methanol, the FDA said, but the agency doesn’t see evidence that it’s in the U.S. market.

▪ Despite the name “Tritanium Labs USA,” the FDA couldn’t definitively list a home nation for Tritanium Labs. Perhaps because they believe TriCleanz Tritanium Labs Hand Sanitizer is made in the same place as similarly named Incredible Products’ sanitizers listed above.

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