FDA warns of ‘toxic’ hand sanitizer

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning against a certain brand of hand sanitizer that may contain methanol, or wood alcohol.

The agency is advising consumers not to use any hand sanitizer manufactured by Eskbiochem SA de CV in Mexico. The FDA said the substance can be toxic when absorbed through the skin or ingested.

Here is a list of the products manufactured by Eskbiochem:

The FDA said consumers who have been exposed to hand sanitizer containing methanol should seek immediate treatment, which is critical for potential reversal of toxic effects of methanol poisoning.

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Substantial methanol exposure can result in nausea, vomiting, headache, blurred vision, permanent blindness, seizures, coma, permanent damage to the nervous system or death.

“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 agency said.

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The FDA said it has contacted Eskbiochem to recommend the company remove its hand sanitizer products from the market but, to date, the company has not removed them.

“FDA recommends consumers stop using these hand sanitizers and dispose of them immediately in appropriate hazardous waste containers,” the agency said. “Do not flush or pour these products down the drain.”