The Food and Drug Administration issued a warning to consumers not to purchase or use hand sanitizer manufactured from Eskbiochem SA de CV due to the potential use of toxic chemicals.
The Mexico-based company manufactures nine products which are still currently on the market. In a letter, the FDA said their products may contain methanol, which can be poisonous if absorbed through the skin or ingested.
The warning covers the following products manufactured by Eskbiochem:
- All-Clean Hand Sanitizer
- Esk Biochem Hand Sanitizer
- CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 75% Alcohol
- Lavar 70 Gel Hand Sanitizer
- The Good Gel Antibacterial Gel Hand Sanitizer
- CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 80% Alcohol
- CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 75% Alcohol
- CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 80% Alcohol
- Saniderm Advanced Hand Sanitizer
The FDA said methanol should not be used in hand sanitizers due to its toxic effects and consumers who have been exposed should seek immediate medical treatment. Significant exposure to the chemical can cause nausea, vomiting, headache, blurred vision, permanent blindness, seizures, coma, permanent damage to the nervous system or death, the FDA’s warning reads.
“Although all persons using these products on their hands are at risk, young children who accidentally ingest these products and adolescents and adults who drink these products as an alcohol (ethanol) substitute, are most at risk for methanol poisoning,” the FDA said.
Consumers are encouraged to stop using these hand sanitizers and dispose of them immediately. The warning also said that these products should not be flushed or poured down the drain.
To date, the FDA has not received any reports of adverse effects associated with the affected products.
The company has not removed the “potentially dangerous” products from the market even after the FDA requested it of the company on June 17.
