The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advised consumers not to use any hand sanitizer manufactured by Eskbiochem SA de CV in Mexico because of the potential presence of methanol (wood alcohol), a substance that can be toxic when absorbed through the skin or ingested, according to a press release.
The FDA said consumers should not use the following products manufactured by Eskbiochem: All-Clean Hand Sanitizer, Esk Biochem Hand Sanitizer, CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer with 75 percent alcohol, Lavar 70 Gel Hand Sanitizer, The Good Gel Antibacterial Gel Hand Sanitizer, CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer with 80 percent alcohol, CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer with 75 percent alcohol, CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer with 80 percent alcohol, and Saniderm Advanced Hand Sanitizer.
The FDA urged consumers who have been exposed to hand sanitizer containing methanol to 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 ingest these products by mistake and adolescents and adults who drink these products as an alcohol (ethanol) substitute, are most at risk for methanol poisoning, the agency said.
