Hand Sanitizer Warning
A potentially fatal ingredient in certain hand sanitizers has caused the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to issue a warning to dispose of them. The sanitizers contain methanol, a toxic chemical that can be absorbed through the skin and cause severe and permanent damage.
“Significant exposure to methanol can result in nausea, vomiting, headache, blurred vision, permanent blindness, seizures, coma, permanent damage to the nervous system and death,” noted a recent news report. Anyone who would accidentally or purposefully ingest the hand sanitizer would be at risk for methanol poisoning. Doses of methanol in the amounts of 30 to 240 ml could cause death, according to a study by the National Center for Biotechnology Information.
The nine brands in question were made by Eskbiochem, a manufacturer based in Mexico. The FDA has asked Eskbiochen to remove the products from shelves but the company has not yet acted. Brand names of the affected sanitizers include the following:
- All-Clean Hand Sanitizer
- Esk Biochech Hand Sanitizer
- CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer (marketed in four different formulations)
- Lavar 70 Gel Hand Sanitizer, and
- Saniderm Advanced Hand Sanitizer.
Those exposed to these hand sanitizers were encouraged by news reports to seek immediate medical attention.
Has an unsafe product resulted in injury to you or a loved one? You may wish to contact an experienced Pennsylvania product liability attorney.