In the era of routine hand sanitizer use to protect against the new coronavirus, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) urges consumers to be wary of at least 75 of these products because they may contain a toxic chemical.
In a Friday announcement, the federal agency included additional hand sanitizers on its list of those that contain methanol, “a substance that can be toxic when absorbed through the skin or ingested and can be fatal when ingested.” Methanol is also sometimes known as wood alcohol, according to the FDA.
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“The agency is aware of adults and children who ingest methanol-contaminated hand sanitizers that have caused recent adverse events, such as blindness, hospitalizations and death,” the announcement said.
Some of the products on the FDA list have been recalled, while others are recommended for recall as they may also contain methanol. All the products appear to have been produced in Mexico, according to the list.
Methanol can be toxic when absorbed through the skin or ingested, the FDA said.
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“Methanol is not an acceptable active ingredient for hand sanitizers and should not be used because of its toxic effects,” the FDA warns. “Consumers who have been exposed to methanol-containing hand sanitizers and experience symptoms should seek immediate treatment for possible reversal of the toxic effects of methanol poisoning.”
Signs of methanol poisoning include nausea, vomiting, headache, blurred vision, and can lead to permanent blindness, seizures, coma, permanent damage to the nervous system, or death.
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“Although everyone who uses these products on their hands is at risk, young children who accidentally ingest these products and adolescents and adults who drink these products as substitutes for alcohol (ethanol) are at increased risk for methanol poisoning,” the FDA said.
The news comes after the FDA first warned about toxic hand sanitizers in June, and the list at the time included nine products. At least 46 additional products were added earlier this month before more hand sanitizers joined the list on Friday.
You can find the FDA’s list of hand sanitizers to avoid here.
