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Toxic, Deadly Hand Sanitizers Recalled
Misleading and mislabeled products have caused blindness, hospitalizations and death
The Food & Drug Administration has recalled dozens of hand sanitizers because they contain a toxic ingredient that is not listed on the product labels.
The products—77 and counting—are said to contain ethanol, also known as ethyl alcohol, an active ingredient for hand sanitizers recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, along with isopropanol. But in tests these products were found to contain methanol, also known as wood alcohol, which “is a substance that can be toxic when absorbed through the skin or ingested and can be life-threatening when ingested,” the FDA says.
“The agency is aware of adults and children ingesting hand sanitizer products contaminated with methanol that has led to recent adverse events including blindness, hospitalizations and death,” the FDA says in a statement.
“Consumers who have been exposed to hand sanitizer containing methanol and are experiencing symptoms should seek immediate treatment for potential reversal of toxic effects of methanol poisoning,” according to the statement. “Substantial methanol exposure can result in nausea, vomiting, headache, blurred vision, permanent blindness, seizures, coma, permanent…
