The Food and Drug Administration is continuing to expand the list of hand sanitizers that are toxic and should not be used. The products on this list have been found to contain methanol and/or 1-propanol. These substances are toxic when absorbed through the skin and can be life threatening when ingested.
1-propanol can cause central nervous system (CNS) depression, which can result in death. Symptoms of exposure can include confusion, decreased consciousness, and slowed pulse and breathing.
According to the FDA “Substantial methanol exposure can result in nausea, vomiting, headache, blurred vision, permanent blindness, seizures, coma, permanent damage to the nervous system or death.”
FDA is asking consumers to review the list of the contaminated hand sanitizers to see if they are currently using any of flagged brands. The agency is asking anyone who is in possession of the flagged hand sanitizers to dispose of them immediately in appropriate hazardous waste containers and urging consumers not to flush the remaining product.
Hand sanitizer recall: A new contaminant warning as more products added to the FDA list
