FDA Warns Against the Use of a Hand Sanitizer That’s Still on the Market

We’ve probably used hand sanitizer more than ever before over the past few months. While soap and water is always a better choice when possible, if you can’t find a sink, hand sanitizer can be very effective at the fight against the coronavirus when it’s used correctly.

Chances are you’ve bought whatever hand sanitizer you could find on store shelves since it can sometimes be hard to find. Go check your hand sanitizer bottle and make sure it wasn’t manufactured by Eskbiochem SA de CV.

The Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning that hand sanitizer manufactured by Eskbiochem might contain methanol which can be toxic when absorbed into the skin.

The following products are made by Eskbiochem:

  • All-Clean Hand Sanitizer 
  • CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 75% Alcohol 
  • CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 80% Alcohol 
  • Esk Biochem Hand Sanitizer 
  • Lavar 70 Gel Hand Sanitizer 
  • Saniderm Advanced Hand Sanitizer
  • The Good Gel Antibacterial Gel Hand Sanitizer

According to the FDA, side-effects of methanol could include headaches, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, permanent blindness, seizures, coma, permanent damage to the nervous system or even death. The FDA states that methanol should not be used in hand sanitizers due to these dangerous side effects.

If you have been exposed to a product containing methanol, the FDA recommends seeking immediate medical attention. The FDA also states that anyone who ingests the product is at even more risk.

“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.”