topic Re: FDA warnings about hand sanitizers in Community Chat

FDA warnings about hand sanitizers

lovesrecess — Mon, 22 Jun 2020 14:04:08 GMT

The FDA has issued warnings about using hand sanitizers manufactured by Eskbiochem due to the potential presence of methanol, which can be toxic when absorbed through the skin or ingested. go.usa/xwp3c

Re: FDA warnings about hand sanitizers

noodleann — Mon, 22 Jun 2020 14:51:04 GMT

Thanks to @lovesrecess for posting about this. Here's the release from the FDA. The products are so toxic that you're not supposed to flush them or pour them down the drain.

"[6/19/2020] FDA advises consumers not to use any hand sanitizer manufactured by Eskbiochem SA de CV in Mexico, due to the potential presence of methanol (wood alcohol), a substance that can be toxic when absorbed through the skin or ingested. FDA has identified the following products manufactured by Eskbiochem:

All-Clean Hand Sanitizer (NDC: 74589-002-01)
Esk Biochem Hand Sanitizer (NDC: 74589-007-01)
CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 75% Alcohol (NDC: 74589-008-04)
Lavar 70 Gel Hand Sanitizer (NDC: 74589-006-01)
The Good Gel Antibacterial Gel Hand Sanitizer (NDC: 74589-010-10)
CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 80% Alcohol (NDC: 74589-005-03)
CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 75% Alcohol (NDC: 74589-009-01)
CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 80% Alcohol (NDC: 74589-003-01)
Saniderm Advanced Hand Sanitizer (NDC: 74589-001-01)

"FDA tested samples of Lavar Gel and CleanCare No Germ. Lavar Gel contains 81 percent (v/v) methanol and no ethyl alcohol, and CleanCare No Germ contains 28 percent (v/v) methanol. Methanol is not an acceptable ingredient for hand sanitizers and should not be used due to its toxic effects.

"Consumers who have been exposed to hand sanitizer containing methanol should seek immediate treatment, which is critical for potential reversal of toxic effects of methanol poisoning. Substantial methanol exposure can result in nausea, vomiting, headache, blurred vision, permanent blindness, seizures, coma, permanent damage to the nervous system or death. Although all persons using these products on their hands are at risk, young children who accidently ingest these products and adolescents and adults who drink these products as an alcohol (ethanol) substitute, are most at risk for methanol poisoning.

"On June 17, 2020, FDA contacted Eskbiochem to recommend the company remove its hand sanitizer products from the market due to the risks associated with methanol poisoning. To date, the company has not taken action to remove these potentially dangerous products from the market. Therefore, FDA recommends consumers stop using these hand sanitizers and dispose of them immediately in appropriate hazardous waste containers. Do not flush or pour these products down the drain."

[emphasis added]

https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/fda-advises-consumers-not-use-hand-sanitizer-products-manufactured-eskbiochem

Re: FDA warnings about hand sanitizers

Anonymous032819 — Mon, 22 Jun 2020 15:07:28 GMT

Well, if you are ingesting hand sanitizer, you have bigger problems.

Re: FDA warnings about hand sanitizers

chiclets — Mon, 22 Jun 2020 15:11:14 GMT

These products should no longer be sold.

They should be pulled from the shelves.

Re: FDA warnings about hand sanitizers

Stray — Tue, 23 Jun 2020 00:28:00 GMT

Better people should use soap and water. It's cheaper, available and more effective. I really don't get over dependence on hand sanitizer. I carry wipes in a baggy in the car or when I commuted but washed my hands upon arrival at my destination.

Re: FDA warnings about hand sanitizers

SeaMaiden — Tue, 23 Jun 2020 01:05:56 GMT

@chiclets wrote:
These products should no longer be sold.
They should be pulled from the shelves.

I hope they do not end up in dollar stores or big lots etc.....

Re: FDA warnings about hand sanitizers

on the bay — Tue, 23 Jun 2020 01:36:31 GMT

Thank you for this.

I have looked and there is o mention about what states they are sold in.So annoying!

Usually that is mentioned.

I have never heard of any of these.

Re: FDA warnings about hand sanitizers

Pearlee — Tue, 23 Jun 2020 01:47:03 GMT

Thanks for posting this. A few weeks ago I posted about checking carefully the ingredients in hand sanitizers
This is why!

Re: FDA warnings about hand sanitizers

ALRATIBA — Tue, 23 Jun 2020 01:50:46 GMT

I've never used hand sanitizer.

At home, I'm only touching my stuff. When I come in from outside - I wash my hands with soap and water (and a quick spray of Clorox/water mix if I was touching stuff in a store.)

I have one friend who as long as I've known her (20+ years) - is constantly using the stuff - she has more health complaints than all the rest of my friends combined.

Re: FDA warnings about hand sanitizers

insomniac2 — Tue, 23 Jun 2020 06:01:50 GMT

Soap/water is my preference.

Re: FDA warnings about hand sanitizers

Pearlee — Tue, 23 Jun 2020 07:18:01 GMT

I need it for use in the car.

Re: FDA warnings about hand sanitizers

Still Raining — Tue, 23 Jun 2020 13:38:48 GMT

I lost the battle of cars and purses. Now I just consider everything that has been out or came from outside to be dirty and leave them all in the garage to ponder their sins. I am lucky to have freezers and a refrigerator out there.

Re: FDA warnings about hand sanitizers

Sooner — Tue, 23 Jun 2020 13:47:18 GMT

Soap? And water? In your car

Oh sure just use wipes. I can't get them anywhere for pickup or delivery and I have tried several times a day. And night. For months.

Well just go to the store, they MIGHT have them. Well, I'm old and NOT going to the store.

There's always a few who for them life is a breeze and everything is so easy peasy and why are we complaining? Why do we have problems at all?

Re: FDA warnings about hand sanitizers

FS74 — Tue, 23 Jun 2020 13:52:39 GMT

Soap and water is best for the hands. I work in a hospital and the only thing we use wipes for is for counter tops, phones, keyboards, mice, and all other items, not people. Wash your hands with warm water while singing happy birthday and you are good to go. We call hand sanitizers paper cut finders.

If you are not near a sink, use sanitizers sparingly and wash when one is available.

Re: FDA warnings about hand sanitizers

Cakers3 — Tue, 23 Jun 2020 14:06:02 GMT

I agree about soap and water. Never use anti-bacterial soaps, either.

We do keep some travel size hand sanitizers around and some wipes but they are used sparingly.

I've seen some odd brands of hand sanitizers in stores but never bothered to look at them; just see the signs for high prices next to them. I don't know if they are part of these warnings. Usually you just see germ-x and puracell.

Re: FDA warnings about hand sanitizers

Lipstickdiva — Tue, 23 Jun 2020 14:25:17 GMT

@Sooner wrote:
Soap? And water? In your car

Oh sure just use wipes. I can't get them anywhere for pickup or delivery and I have tried several times a day. And night. For months.

Well just go to the store, they MIGHT have them. Well, I'm old and NOT going to the store.

There's always a few who for them life is a breeze and everything is so easy peasy and why are we complaining? Why do we have problems at all?

I have said more than once on this board that I much prefer soap and water when available. I cannot stand hand sanitizer on a regular basis because I think it's horrible for you. Some people use it like nothing. They touch something and then use hand sanitizer.

However, there are many, many times when soap and water isn't an option. When I have to go out and about for work, many government buildings don't have a bathroom available to run into to wash. My only option is using hand sanitizer. When I leave and go to my car, I have to use hand sanitizer. If I grab something from a drive-thru, I use a hand sanitizer. Pumping gas? I use sanitizer immediately afterwards.

As for wipes, what are you doing with all those wipes when you are done with them? Are they recycleable? It's much easier to keep a sanitizer in my purse, use a squirt and move on.

Re: FDA warnings about hand sanitizers

Sooner — Tue, 23 Jun 2020 14:45:22 GMT

@Lipstickdiva No. I do not recycle hand sanitizer wipes. I have no guilt either.

I could throw away a lifetime of them and have no more impact than the MILLIONS of cardboxes (BIG boxes) we are all recycling now.

Re: FDA warnings about hand sanitizers

FlowerBear — Tue, 23 Jun 2020 15:21:40 GMT

They should not be allowed to be sold! I most always use soap and water but when I am out I have to use some sanitizer and take it with me.

Re: FDA warnings about hand sanitizers

songbird — Tue, 23 Jun 2020 16:49:13 GMT

I never got any hand sanitizer. Back when this pandemic started, I could not find any. I just use soap and water. I have Dial liquid foaming soap. It's on my sink in the kitchen and bathroom. Funny how that hand sanitizers are easy to get now, I have no desire to get them.

Re: FDA warnings about hand sanitizers

mima — Tue, 23 Jun 2020 17:00:10 GMT

For wipes, I cut paper towels and layed them on top to make a neat stack. I then put the stack in a gallon baggie. I pour rubbing alcohol into the baggie until all the paper towels are damp. I use those for wipes whenever I need one when I'm away from home. I have them in my car.

Hope that helps.