According to the Food and Drug Administration, it is important to steer clear of any hand sanitizers manufactured from Eskbiochem SA de CV. They are warning consumers there is a potential presence of toxic chemicals in any hand sanitizers that come from the Mexico-based company.
Methanol may be found in any of the nine products that are still being sold on the market. In a letter from the FDA, they explained, methanol can be poisonous if absorbed through the skin or ingested.
The warning includes all the following products manufactured by Eskbiochem:
- All-Clean Hand Sanitizer
- Esk Biochem Hand Sanitizer
- CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 75% Alcohol
- Lavar 70 Gel Hand Sanitizer
- The Good Gel Antibacterial Gel Hand Sanitizer
- CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 80% Alcohol
- CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 75% Alcohol
- CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 80% Alcohol
- Saniderm Advanced Hand Sanitizer
The FDA tested samples from the products listed above and found some containing as much as 81% methanol. The FDA stated, “Methanol is not an acceptable ingredient for hand sanitizers and should not be used due to its toxic side effects.”
Anyone who feels they have been exposed to any hand sanitizer containing methanol should seek immediate treatment in order to reverse the toxic effects of methanol poisoning. Side effects of substantial methanol exposure can result in nausea, vomiting, headache, blurred vision, permanent blindness, seizures, coma, permanent damage to the nervous system or death.
Young children and teens are at the highest risk of methanol poisoning if the products are ingested either by accident or as a substitute for alcohol.
FDA identified the products below that are manufactured by Eskbiochem. To keep hands clean, wash with soap & water for at least 20 seconds. If soap & water are not readily available, @CDCgov recommends using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% ethanol. pic.twitter.com/xpZ9UZQAsx
— FDA Drug Information (@FDA_Drug_Info) June 19, 2020
If you find that you have any of the named products in your possession, you are encouraged to stop using them and dispose of them immediately. However, please do not flush or pour them down the drain.
The FDA contacted the company and requested they remove its hand sanitizer products from the market because of the risks. However, as of June 19, 2020, the company of the tainted hand sanitizers had not taken action to remove their potentially dangerous products.
Read the FDA’s full statement by clicking here.
For more information, you can watch the video below.