How Safe is Your Hand Sanitizer? FDA Bans Sanitizers from Mexico
The U.S. FDA (Food and Drug Administration) placed all alcohol-based hand sanitizers from Mexico on import alert due to safety concerns. They found that some hand sanitizers from Mexico were subpotent or potentially dangerous. All hand sanitizers will be banned from entering the U.S. until the agency can review the hand sanitizers coming from Mexico for safety.
Since the outbreak of the pandemic, the FDA has seen a significant increase in hand sanitizers from Mexico that were labeled to contain ethanol (also known as ethyl alcohol) but tested positive for methanol contamination. Methanol, or wood alcohol, is a substance that can be toxic when absorbed through the skin and life-threatening when ingested.
The FDA found that more than half of the samples of hand sanitizers imported from Mexico were found to contain toxic ingredients, including methanol and/or 1-propanol, at dangerous levels. In most cases, methanol does not appear as an ingredient on the product label.
The FDA has a list of hand sanitizer products that consumers should not use, which include those that FDA has found to contain methanol and/or 1-propanol.
People who have been exposed to contaminated sanitizers may experience symptoms including nausea, vomiting, headache and blurred vision. Anyone experiencing symptoms should contact their local poison control center and seek immediate medical treatment immediately.
MicroCare, LLC recently introduced a line on hand sanitizer product that are FDA registered, made in the USA and safe to use. The Stereze™ brand of hand sanitizer wipes, gel and spray are high-purity alcohol-based sanitizers and are registered with the U. S. FDA (Food and Drug Administration) under the OTC (Over-the-Counter) drug monograph. Each of the Stereze Hand Sanitizer products have a unique NDC (National Drug Code) number which is required by the FDA and ensures that all are fully compliant with FDA regulations.
Want to know more about safe hand sanitizing practices? The Stereze Hand Sanitizer eGuide™ includes all you need to know about safe and efficient hand sanitizing. Read FAQs, watch videos, download a poster and determine what Stereze product best fits your hand sanitizing method.