FDA Warns Of Toxic Ingredients In Some Hand Sanitizers

The FDA is warning consumers and health care providers that the agency has seen a sharp increase in hand sanitizer products that are labeled to contain ethanol (also known as ethyl alcohol) but that have tested positive for methanol contamination. Methanol, or wood alcohol, is a substance that can be toxic when absorbed through the skin or ingested and can be life-threatening when ingested.

Due to the current health crisis in America, the demand for hand sanitizer has skyrocketed. As the demand increased, questionable new brands of sanitizer have popped up, looking to capitalize on the expanding market. Some of these new hand sanitizers are being produced in Mexico, and it is those products that the FDA has found to contain high levels of methanol.

The tainted sanitizers include many sanitizer products branded “Blumen”, as well as several other brands. To find out if your sanitizer contains methanol, you can visit the FDA recall list here, or scroll to the bottom of this page for the full list. 

Side effects of methanol toxicity include drowsiness, a reduced level of consciousness, confusion, headache, dizziness, and the inability to coordinate muscle movement. Sufficiently large doses can cause unconsciousness and death. When methanol is broken down by the body, it creates formaldehyde, formic acid, and formate, which cause much of the toxicity.

“Unfortunately, there are some companies taking advantage of the increased usage of hand sanitizer during the coronavirus pandemic and putting lives at risk by selling products with dangerous and unacceptable ingredients. Consumers and health care providers should not use methanol-containing hand sanitizers,” FDA Commissioner Dr. Stephen Hahn said in a statement July 2.

Several popular retailers throughout America have been found to be selling these tainted sanitizers, including BJ’s Wholesale Club, Costco, and Walmart. If you have purchased one of the tainted hand sanitizers listed below, you may be eligible for compensation. Kazerouni Law Group has years of experience pursuing manufacturers of tainted products, including hand sanitizer companies, and will represent you at no upfront cost- you won’t pay a dime unless we win or settle your case.