FDA Says To Throw Out These 9 Potentially Toxic Hand Sanitizers

The FDA is issuing a warning to consumers to throw out these 9 hand sanitizers for being potentially toxic. As more Americans are stocking up on disinfectant wipes, antibacterial sprays, and hand sanitizer, the FDA is putting out a warning to check the label to make sure your hand sanitizer isn't "toxic." The Food and Drug Administration released advisement that 9 brands of hand sanitizer had a potentially toxic level of methanol (wood alcohol). Methanol can be toxic when absorbed through the skin or if ingested and should not be used in hand sanitizer according to the FDA. The products were made by Eskbiochem SA de CV in Mexico and include the following brands (included are the products National Drug Code identifiers):

• All-Clean Hand Sanitizer (NDC: 74589-002-01)
• Esk Biochem Hand Sanitizer (NDC: 74589-007-01)
• CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 75% Alcohol (NDC: 74589-008-04)
• Lavar 70 Gel Hand Sanitizer (NDC: 74589-006-01)
• The Good Gel Antibacterial Gel Hand Sanitizer (NDC: 74589-010-10)
• CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 80% Alcohol (NDC: 74589-005-03)
• CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 75% Alcohol (NDC: 74589-009-01)
• CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 80% Alcohol (NDC: 74589-003-01)
• Saniderm Advanced Hand Sanitizer (NDC: 74589-001-01)

The FDA says they tested these brands and found some contained as high as 81 percent methanol with no ethyl alcohol. Others have less than 20 percent methanol but no methanol should be included in hand sanitizer. The hand sanitizers could be so toxic, the FDA is recommending people don't pour the sanitizers down the drain and instead throw them out into the trash. Symptoms of methanol exposure include:

• nausea
• vomiting
• headache
• blurred vision
• permanent blindness
• seizures
• coma

Sever methanol exposure can result in permanent damage to the nervous system or even death. Find out more details about the FDA advisement on the Food and Drug Administration's website.