More hand sanitizers identified for methanol risk and added to FDA list of ones to avoid
The Food and Drug Administration's list of hand sanitizers to avoid keeps growing.
As of Friday, the FDA's "do-not-use list of dangerous hand sanitizer products" now includes more than 150 varieties of hand sanitizer that should be avoided because they may contain methanol, a potentially fatal ingredient, contain other harmful ingredients or don't work effectively.
More of the hand sanitizers have been recalled with others being recommended for recall. Methanol is a toxic substance when absorbed through skin or ingested.
The federal agency says that in most cases, methanol does not appear on the product label but that it is "not an acceptable ingredient in any drug, including hand sanitizer, even if methanol is listed as an ingredient on the product label."
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Methanol isn't the only reason why some hand sanitizers were added to the FDA's list.
"FDA continues to find issues with certain hand sanitizer products. FDA test results show certain hand sanitizers have concerningly low levels of ethyl alcohol or isopropyl alcohol, which are active ingredients in hand sanitizer products," the federal agency said. "The agency urges consumers not to use these subpotent products and has expanded its list to include subpotent hand sanitizers, in addition to hand sanitizers that are or may be contaminated with methanol."
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Some of the sanitizers on the list "have tested positive for 1-propanol contamination," which "is not an acceptable ingredient for hand sanitizer products marketed in the United States and can be toxic and life-threatening when ingested."
The agency said that young children who ingest 1-propanol can experience central nervous system (CNS) depression, which can be deadly. Other symptoms include "confusion, decreased consciousness, and slowed pulse and breathing," as well as skin irritation or allergic reactions, the FDA said.
In a warning July 27, the FDA said it is "urging consumers not to use any hand sanitizer products from the particular manufacturers on the list even if the product or particular lot number are not listed since some manufacturers are recalling only certain – but not all – of their hand sanitizer products."
In June, the FDA warned consumers not to use nine kinds of hand sanitizers because they may contain methanol, and added to the list in early July, expanding it multiple times that month.
The FDA has said it has taken steps to prevent the products from entering the country by placing them on an import alert. Most of the products appear to have been produced in Mexico and, according to the alert, should be avoided because they pose a health risk.
Methanol is used industrially as a solvent, pesticide and alternative fuel source, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Exposure to it can cause nausea, vomiting, headache, blurred vision, permanent blindness, seizures, coma, permanent damage to the nervous system and death.
Hand sanitizer has been a popular product to combat the coronavirus since February, and many new types have entered the market after shortages of brands including Purell.
“We remain extremely concerned about the potential serious risks of alcohol-based hand sanitizers containing methanol," FDA Commissioner Stephen M. Hahn said in a statement. "Producing, importing and distributing toxic hand sanitizers poses a serious threat to the public and will not be tolerated.”
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Avoid these hand sanitizers
The FDA says the products are on its list for several reasons. They might contain methanol or may be labeled that they contain methanol. They also could have microbial contamination or be subpotent, which means “it has less than the required amount of ethyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol or benzalkonium chloride.”
Others were put on the list because they were “purportedly made at the same facility as products that have been tested by FDA and found to contain methanol.”
Find more information, including the product code where available, on the FDA website.
Grupo Insoma S.A.P.I's Hand sanitizer Gel Unscented 70% Alcohol
Mystic International's Mystic Shield Protection hand sanitizer
Soluciones Cosmeticas's Bersih Hand Sanitizer Gel Fragrance Free
Soluciones Cosmeticas's Bersih Antiseptic Alcohol 70% Topical Solution hand sanitizer
Soluciones Cosmeticas's Purity Advanced Hand Sanitizer
Tropicosmeticos's Britz Hand Sanitizer Ethyl Alcohol 70%
Tropicosmeticos's Parabola Hand Sanitizer
Tropicosmeticos's Urbane Bath and Body Hand Sanitizer
Tropicosmeticos's Cleaner Hand Sanitizer Rinse Free 70%
Tropicosmeticos's Handzer Hand Sanitizer Rinse Free
Tropicosmeticos's Kleanz Antibacterial Hand Sanitizer Advanced
Tropicosmeticos's Be Safe Hand Sanitizer
Tropicosmeticos's Wave Hand Sanitizer Gel
Eskbiochem's CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 75% Alcohol
Eskbiochem's Lavar 70 Gel Hand Sanitizer
Eskbiochem's All-Clean Hand Sanitizer
Eskbiochem's Esk Biochem Hand Sanitizer
Eskbiochem's The Good Gel Antibacterial Gel Hand Sanitizer
Eskbiochem's CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 80% Alcohol
Eskbiochem's CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 80% Alcohol
Eskbiochem's Saniderm Advanced Hand Sanitizer
AAA Cosmetica's bio aaa Advance Hand Sanitizer
AAA Cosmetica's LumiSkin Advance Hand Sanitizer 4 oz
AAA Cosmetica's LumiSkin Advance Hand Sanitizer 16 oz
AAA Cosmetica's QualitaMed Hand Sanitizer
4E Global SAPI's Blumen Clear Advanced Hand Sanitizer with 70% Alcohol
4E Global SAPI's Blumen Advanced Instant Hand Sanitizer Clear Ethyl Alcohol 70%
4E Global SAPI's BLUMEN Advanced Instant Hand Sanitizer Clear
4E Global SAPI's BLUMEN Advanced Instant Hand Sanitizer Clear
4E Global SAPI's KLAR AND DANVER Instant Hand Sanitizer
4E Global SAPI's MODESA Instant Hand Sanitizer Moisturizers and Vitamin E
4E Global SAPI's BLUMEN Advanced Hand Sanitizer
4E Global SAPI's BLUMEN Advanced Hand Sanitizer
4E Global SAPI's BLUMEN Advanced Hand Sanitizer Aloe
4E Global SAPI's BLUMEN Advanced Instant Hand Sanitizer Lavender
4E Global SAPI's BLUMEN Clear Advanced Hand Sanitizer
4E Global SAPI's BLUMEN Clear Advanced Hand Sanitizer
4E Global SAPI's BLUMEN Clear LEAR Advanced Hand Sanitizer
4E Global SAPI's BLUMEN Clear LEAR Advanced Hand Sanitizer
4E Global SAPI's The Honeykeeper Hand Sanitizer
4E Global SAPI's BLUMEN Advanced Hand Sanitizer Clear
4E Global SAPI's BLUMEN Clear Advanced Instant Hand Sanitizer
4E Global SAPI's BLUMEN Clear Advanced Instant Hand Sanitizer Aloe
4E Global SAPI's BLUMEN Clear Advanced Instant Hand Sanitizer Lavender
4E Global SAPI's BLUMEN Aloe Advanced Hand Sanitizer, with 70 Alcohol
4E Global SAPI's BLUMEN Aloe Advanced Hand Sanitizer, with 70 Alcohol
4E Global SAPI's Blumen Advanced Hand Sanitizer Lavender, with 70% alcohol
4E Global SAPI's Blumen Advanced Hand Sanitizer Aloe, with 70% alcohol
4E Global SAPI's Blumen Antibacterial Fresh Citrus Hand Sanitizer
4E Global SAPI's Blumen Hand Sanitizer Fresh Citrus
4E Global SAPI's KLAR and DANVER Instant Hand Sanitizer
4E Global SAPI's Hello Kitty Hand Sanitizer
4E Global SAPI's Assured Instant Hand Sanitizer (Vitamin E and Aloe)
4E Global SAPI's Assured Instant Hand Sanitizer (Aloe and Moisturizers)
4E Global SAPI's Assured Instant Hand Sanitizer Vitamin E and Aloe
4E Global SAPI's Assured Instant Hand Sanitizer Aloe and Moisturizers
4E Global SAPI's BLUMEN Instant Hand Sanitizer Fragrance Free
4E Global SAPI's BLUMEN Instant Hand Sanitizer Aloe Vera
4E Global SAPI's Assured Aloe
DDI Multinacional's Earths Amenities Instant Unscented Hand Sanitizer with Aloe Vera Advanced
DDI Multinacional's Hand Sanitizer Agavespa Skincare
DDI Multinacional's Vidanos Easy Cleaning Rentals Hand Sanitizer Agavespa Skincare
Limpo Quimicos's Andy’s Best
Limpo Quimicos's Andy’s
Limpo Quimicos's NeoNatural
Limpo Quimicos's Plus Advanced
Liqesa Exportacion or Liq-E-S.A.'s Optimus Lubricants Instant Hand Sanitizer
Maquiladora Miniara's Selecto Hand Sanitizer
Maquiladora Miniara,'s Shine and Clean Hand Sanitizer
Soluciones Cosmeticas's Hand Sanitizer Gel Alcohol 70%
Yara Elena De La Garza Perez Nieto's DAESI Hand Sanitizer
Real Clean Distribuciones's Born Basic. Anti-Bac Hand Sanitizer 70% alcohol
Real Clean Distribuciones's Born Basic. Anti-Bac Hand Sanitizer 65% Alcohol
Real Clean Distribuciones's Scent Theory – Keep It Clean – Pure Clean Anti-bacterial Hand Sanitizer
Real Clean Distribuciones's Cavalry
Real Clean Distribuciones's ENLIVEN Hand Sanitizing Gel
Real Clean Distribuciones's Lux Eoi Hand Sanitizing Gel
Real Clean Distribuciones's Scent Theory – Keep It Clean – Pure Clean Anti-bacterial Hand Sanitizer
MXL Comercial's Hand Sanitizer Disinfectant Gel 70% Ethyl Alcohol
MXL Comercial's Hand Sanitizer Disinfectant Gel 70% Ethyl Alcohol Rinse Free Hand Rub
Liqesa Exportacion or Liq-E-S.A.'s Optimus Instant Hand Sanitizer
Liqesa Exportacion or Liq-E-S.A.'s Optimus Instant Hand Sanitizer
Laboratorios Jaloma's Jaloma Antiseptic Hand Sanitizer Ethyl Alcohol 62% with Vitamin E
Leiper’s Fork Distillery's Leiper’s Fork Distillery Bulk Disinfectant per 5 gallon and Leiper’s Fork Distillery 16 oz bottle
Broncolin's Herbacil Antiseptic Hand Sanitizer 70% Alcohol
Broncolin's Herbacil Antiseptic Hand Sanitizer 70% Alcohol
Broncolin's Herbacil Antiseptic Hand Sanitizer 70% Alcohol
Albek de Mexico's NEXT Hand Sanitizer
Albek de Mexico's NuuxSan Instant Antibacterial Hand Sanitizer
Albek de Mexico's NuuxSan Instant Hand Sanitizer
Albek de Mexico's Assured Instant Antiseptic Hand Sanitizer with Aloe and Moisturizers
Albek de Mexico's Assured Instant Antiseptic Hand Sanitizer with Vitamin E and Aloe
Albek de Mexico's Modesa Instant Antiseptic Hand Sanitizer with Moisturizers and Aloe Vera
Albek de Mexico's Modesa Instant Antiseptic Hand Sanitizer with Moisturizers and Vitamin E
Healthy Foods & Nutrition Lab de Mexico's Medicare Alcohol Antiseptic Topical Solution
Incredible Products's GelBact Hand Sanitizer
Incredible Products's Hand Sanitizer
Incredible Products's TriCleanz
JG Atlas Comercios's Sayab Antisepctic Hand Sanitizer 100
Tritanium Labs USA's TriCleanz Tritanium Labs Hand Sanitizer
DEPQ Internacional's dgreen Advanced Sanitizer Alcohol Free
DEPQ Internacional's dgreen Advanced Hand Sanitizer Antibacterial Gel
DEPQ Internacional's Hand Sanitizer
DEPQ Internacional's Hand Sanitizer Gel
DEPQ Internacional's Clean Humans Hand Sanitizer
Notarika's Greenfrog Hand Sanitizing wipes
Notarika's Greenfrog Hand Sanitizer
Quimica Magna de Mexico's Datsen Hand Sanitizer
Quimica Magna de Mexico's Alcohol Antiseptic 62% Hand Sanitizer
Quimica Magna de Mexico's Bernal Hand Sanitizer
Quimica Magna de Mexico's Alcohol Antiseptic 65% Hand Sanitizer; Alcohol Antiseptic 70% Hand Sanitizer
Roque Plast's Command Gel AntiBac Instant hand sanitizer
Spartan Chemical Co Inc.'s Lite ’n Foamy Lemon Blossom Hand Sanitizer
Spartan Chemical Co Inc.'s foamyiQ Lemon Blossom Hand Sanitizer
Asiaticon's V-KLEAN Hand Sanitizer Gel
Asiaticon's V-KLEAN Hand Sanitizer Gel
Asiaticon's V-KLEAN Hand Sanitizer Gel
Asiaticon's Derma70 Hand Sanitizer
Asiaticon's V-KLEAN
Asiaticon's Medically Minded Hand Sanitizer Gel
Asiaticon's Protz Real Protection Antibacterial Hand Sanitizer
Botanicals Internacional's All Clear Hand Sanitizer Fragrance Free
Botanicals Internacional's Alcohol Antiseptic 80% topical solution hand sanitizer
Botanicals Internacional's Inatek Hand Sanitizer Non-Sterile Solution
Botanicals Internacional's Total Pure Alcohol Based Hand Sanitizer Gel
Botanicals Internacional's 70% Alcohol Gel Hand Sanitizer
Botanicals Internacional's ResQue 1st Instant Hand Sanitizer
Botanicals Internacional's 70% Alcohol Gel Hand Sanitizer
Botanicals Internacional's 70% Alcohol Gel Hand Sanitizer
Estrategia Hospitalaria's OZO Hand Sanitizer, Luxury Formula
Grupo Insoma S.A.P.I's Hand sanitizer
Ismar Soluciones Dinámicas's OZO Hand Sanitizer
Noticias Mexico Hoy Grupo Multimedia's Medical Mary Clean Hand Sanitizer
Noticias Mexico Hoy Grupo Multimedia's AMX Instant Hand Sanitizer
Asiaticon's V-KLEAN Hand Sanitizer Gel
Grupo Yacana Mexico SAS De Cv's Yacana Alcohol Antiseptic 70% Topical Solution
Grupo Yacana Mexico SAS De Cv's Yacana Isopropyl Alcohol Antiseptic 70% Topical Solution
Grupo Yacana Mexico SAS De Cv's Yacana Clase Mundial Isopropyl Alcohol Antiseptic 70% Topical Solution or Gel
Ignacio Reyes Gonzalez's Medically Minded Hand Sanitizer Gel Antimicrobial Formula
Ignacio Reyes Gonzalez's Alcohol Antiseptic 70% Solution or 80% Solution
Ismar Soluciones Dinámicas S de RL de CV (Mexico)'s OZO Ozone Hand sanitizer Gel
Ismar Soluciones Dinámicas S de RL de CV (Mexico)'s Goldsquare Hand Sanitizer
Ismar Soluciones Dinámicas S de RL de CV (Mexico)'s Medi Science Laboratories Germ Killa 70% Alcohol Hand Gel
Harmonic Nature S de RL de MI (Mexico)'s Alcohol Antiseptic 75% Topical Solution Hand Sanitizer
Grupo Plast Y Kosas Sa De CV (Mexico)'s M Hand Sanitizer Alcohol Antiseptic topical solution 80% Topical Solution Hand Sanitizer
Grupo Plast Y Kosas Sa De CV's (Mexico)'s Jalisco Paper Inc Restaurant Supplies Hand Sanitizer
Grupo Plast Y Kosas Sa De CV's (Mexico)'s O.K. Pharmacy Hand Sanitizer
Grupo Plast Y Kosas Sa De CV's (Mexico)'s Hand Sanitizer Alcohol Antiseptic topical solution 80%
Open Book Extracts (North Carolina)'s Always Be Clean Hand Sanitizer
Open Book Extracts (North Carolina)'s Just Hand Sanitizer Single Use Packs
Plastico Las Palmas SA de CV (Mexico)'s BV BYE Virus 99
Plastico Las Palmas SA de CV (Mexico)'s In Good Hands Hand Sanitizer Gel
Santa Cruz Biotechnology (Texas)'s UltraCruz Hand Sanitizing Gel Antimicrobial
SG24 LLC (Georgia)'s SkinGuard24 All-Day Hand Sanitizer
Volu-Sol, Inc. (Utah)'s Volu-Sol Handrub Sanitizing Solution
Yangzhou Olande Cosmetic Co. Ltd (China)'s Leafree Instant Hand Sanitizer
Recalled hand sanitizers
The following products have been recalled or recommended for recall as of Aug. 14:
ITECH 361's All Clean Hand Sanitizer, Moisturizer and Disinfectant: UPC code 628055370130.
Transliquid Technologies' Mystic Shield Protection hand sanitizer: NDC numbers include 75477-435-02, 75477-435-10, 75477-435-12, 75477-435-25, 75477-435-50 and 75477-534-10.
Saniderm Advanced Hand Sanitizer, 1-liter bottles: Two distributors. The UVT hand sanitizer is labeled with lot number 0530 and an expiration date of 04/2022 and the Saniderm Products hand sanitizer is labeled with lot number 53131626 and “Manufactured on April/1/20.”
4e Brands North America's Blumen brand is "voluntarily recalling all lots of Hand Sanitizer brands to the consumer level." This is an expansion of an earlier recall.
Real Clean Distribuciones is voluntarily recalling all lots it manufactured within expiry of the following brand names of hand sanitizers: "Born Basic ANTI-BAC HAND SANITIZER, Scent Theory KEEP CLEAN Moisturizing Hand Sanitizer, Scent Theory KEEP IT CLEAN Moisturizing Hand Sanitizer and Lux Eoi Hand Sanitizing Gel to the consumer level."
LIQ-E S.A. de C.V. is voluntarily recalling all lots and all bottle sizes of "The OPTIMUS Instant Hand Sanitizer" manufactured between April 27 and May 8.
Resource Recovery & Trading LLC is "voluntarily recalling all the lots manufactured by MXL Comercial S.A. de C.V." with the following information: “Hand Sanitizer 70% Ethyl Alcohol Disinfectant Gel, packaged in 6.7 FL Oz. (200 ml) bottles, UPC 650240026020 and Hand Sanitizer Non-sterile Solution 70% Topical Solution, packaged in 20L (5.28 Gal) liter plastic containers, UPC 37710600013 to the consumer level.”
Broncolin is "voluntarily recalling all lots of Herbacil Antiseptic Hand Sanitizer 70% Alcohol to the consumer level." The hand sanitizer comes in four different sizes, according to the recall notice.
Albek de Mexico is "voluntarily recalling all lots and all brands of hand sanitizer currently in US distribution to the consumer level."
Roque Plast is "voluntarily recalling lots 200371-12, 200371OH-05, 170420OH-06, 170420OH-8 manufactured by Roque Plast S.A. de C.V. of Command Brands Gel AntiBac Instant Hand Sanitizer to the consumer level."
Incredible Products is voluntarily recalling one lot of “GELBAC T ANTIBACTERIAL HANDGEL, packaged in 1 liter /33.8 oz plastic bottles and 125ml/4.2 oz plastic bottles of to the consumer level” due to the potential presence of methanol.
Grupo Yacana Mexico SAS De Cv's Yacana Alcohol Antiseptic 70% Topical Solution
Grupo Yacana Mexico SAS De Cv's Yacana Isopropyl Alcohol Antiseptic 70% Topical Solution
Grupo Yacana Mexico SAS De Cv's Yacana Clase Mundial Isopropyl Alcohol Antiseptic 70% Topical Solution or Gel
Harmonic Nature S de RL de MI (Mexico)'s Alcohol Antiseptic 75% Topical Solution Hand Sanitizer
Open Book Extracts (North Carolina)'s Always Be Clean Hand Sanitizer
Open Book Extracts (North Carolina)'s Just Hand Sanitizer Single Use Packs
Santa Cruz Biotechnology (Texas)'s UltraCruz Hand Sanitizing Gel Antimicrobial
SG24 LLC (Georgia)'s SkinGuard24 All-Day Hand Sanitizer
Volu-Sol, Inc. (Utah)'s Volu-Sol Handrub Sanitizing Solution
Contributing: Nathan Bomey
Follow USA TODAY reporter Kelly Tyko on Twitter: @KellyTyko
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Hand sanitizers warning: FDA's list of sanitizers with methanol grows