After nearly two months of hand sanitizers made in Mexico by recall by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), hand sanitizers from four U.S. states and another country were added to the “do-not-use” list.
Texas is the largest state on the list, followed by North Carolina, Georgia and Utah. China is the other country added, according to the FDA.
The latest products have been identified as containing 1-propanol as well as methanol, which are banned in hand sanitizers. Both are considered “toxic”, and methanol has already been found in more than 150 hand sanitizers – all of which are made in Mexico.
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Hand sanitizers became a hot commodity because the spread of COVID-19 during the global pandemic led to fears, shutdowns and more awareness of cleanliness.
The FDA announced on Wednesday that 1-propanol, which is found in hand sanitizers, can depress the central nervous system. The FDA stated that some products are labeled to contain ethanol or isopropyl alcohol, but have tested positive for 1-propanol contamination.
“The agency asks consumers not to use these 1-propanol-contaminated products and has expanded their do-not-use list of hand replacements … that are or may be contaminated with 1-propanol, in addition to other hand sanitizers the agency requires consumers not to use, ”the FDA explained.
Photo by PRAKASH MATHEMA / AFP via Getty Images
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Here is a list of hand sanitizers recalled by the FDA so far because of “toxins” found in them, whether it is 1-propanol or methanol.
And here are the states (and China) that produce hand substitutes with ingredients that the FDA considers toxic “:
Georgia
SkinGuard 24 All-Day Hand Sanitizer – label says it contains methanol
North Carolina
Always clean with hand sanitizer and disposable hand sanitizer – both contain methanol
Texas
UltraCruz Hand Sanitizing Gel Antimicrobial – Does not contain enough ethanol
Utah
Volu-Sol Handrub Sanitizing Solution – Greased methanol
China
Leafree Instant Hand Sanitizer – Labeled to be “edible alcohol”
The FDA stated that it will continuously look at products to ensure safety for those who buy and use them.
“FDA continues to wait and will continue to take action if quality issues arise with handpieces,” it said. “In addition, the agency is making false and misleading claims for hand sanitizers, for example that they can provide longer protection such as 24-hour protection against viruses including COVID-19, as there is no evidence to support these claims.”
Although hand sanitizer is often recommended to help keep your hands clean when you are in public – or even in your home – many of them have been discovered to have methanol, which can be toxic if contained in ‘ the skin absorbed or infiltrated by skin. The introduction of 1-propanol is another way in which the FDA warns consumers about the dangers of products on the market.
