dChan - Q Origins Project Archive

The Food and Drug Administration is warning people about hand sanitizers that were contaminated by methanol. That ingredient not found on the label could cause serious health issues.

If you read the ingredients on a hand sanitizer product it's only going to say the ethanol part (also known as ethyl). But when some products went under quality testing contamination was found. However, that's, not the only thing FDA is warning about.

Hand sanitizers have been the forefront against the fight of COVID-19.

"We went from having almost none available because we went and bought a lot the hospitals needed it, businesses needed it, so we are grateful for the abundance but the problem is the quality control was very slow behind it," recounts Sandra Palavecino, a doctor from Nanticoke Physicians Network.

But this time around hand sanitizer shortage isn't the problem.

"By contamination, they had another substance inside them called methanol," added Dr. Palavecino.

According to the FDA, they've "Seen a sharp increase in hand sanitizer products labeled to contain ethanol(also known as ethyl alcohol) but have tested positive for methanol contamination."

"Continued use or heavy use of methanol could cause severe symptoms, such as nausea headache and all the way to blurry vision and even seizures. So because of that and the risk of people not just using it a lot but you know kids they are maybe not supervised or young people may think it might be fun to swallow it and actually consume it could get these symptoms," said Dr. Palavecino.

So far there are 69 products being tested and recalled by the FDA.

However, methanol contamination isn't the only thing the FDA is warning consumers about

"This one that I have in my hand looks like something that a little kid will find and think maybe its a candy…It says cotton candy in the front," added Dr. Palavecino.

Adding to the list is false advertising such as "FDA approved" since there are no hand sanitizers FDA approved and hand sanitizers claiming to be for up to 24-hour protection.

The CDC recommends consumers use hand sanitizers with 60 percent ethanol also known as ethyl.

However, washing your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water should always be your first priority.

But in addition to keeping your hands clean,

"Wear your mask…I know that's not the point of the interview but we cannot stress more than that will be great," said Dr. Palavecino. Most of the products being recalled were produced in Mexico, so people in border states like Texas have been using them. There have been no reports that these products have been sold in Delaware or Maryland and there have been no reports of anyone getting sick from hand sanitizer contaminated with methanol.

For a complete list of the products being recounted you can visit: https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/fda-updates-hand-sanitizers-methanol#products or https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/4e-brands-north-america-issues-nationwide-voluntary-recall-hand-sanitizer-due-potential-presence.

http://www.wboc.com/story/42379181/fda-recalls-certain-hand-sanitizers-due-methanol-contamination