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MEXICO CITY (AP) – The United States Food and Drug Administration issued a warning about a hand sanitizing gel made in Mexico that it says is dangerous because it contains large amounts of poisonous methanol or wood alcohol.
The FDA said methanol “can be toxic when absorbed through the skin or ingested,” and recommended that consumers get rid of nine brands of gel disinfectants manufactured by Eskbiochem SA de CV.
The FDA said that one of the brands contained 81% methanol and no ethyl alcohol, which is the type of drink.
Late last week, the FDA said it had contacted Eskbiochem “to recommend the company to recall its hand sanitizer products because of the risks associated with methanol poisoning,” but the company did not. have done. The company did not immediately respond to an email request for comment.
Brands include All-Clean Hand Sanitizer, CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer, The Good Gel Antibacterial Gel Sanitizer and CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer.
“Although everyone who uses these products on their hands is at risk,” the FDA said young children who accidentally ingest it or adults who drink it as a substitute for ethyl alcohol are also at risk.
Methanol is a poisonous cousin of ethyl alcohol in normal spirits and cannot be smelled or tasted in beverages. It causes organ and brain damage and can be fatal, and its symptoms include chest pain, nausea, hyperventilation, blindness, and even coma.
Methanol poisoning from adulterated liquor has cost more than one hundred lives in Mexico since the coronavirus pandemic began. As part of the coronavirus blockades, many cities banned the legitimate sale of liquor, and many people also lost their jobs and apparently were unable to buy more professional liquor.
