In a warning with relevance for promotional products firms selling hand sanitizer, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says people should not use sanitizers that contain methanol because the substance can be toxic when absorbed through the skin or ingested – and even life-threatening when swallowed.

“The agency is aware of adults and children ingesting hand sanitizer products contaminated with methanol that has led to recent adverse events including blindness, hospitalizations and death,” the FDA said in a statement on methanol.

Newly released data from ASI, Counselor’s parent company, shows that “hand sanitizer” has been the single most searched term in ESP in 2020. ESP is ASI’s database of products from throughout the promotional products industry.

Given its toxic properties, methanol is not an acceptable active ingredient for hand sanitizers and must not be used, the FDA asserts. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that people use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% ethanol, which is also referred to as ethyl alcohol.

The FDA is continuing its investigation into methanol appearing in hand sanitizers.

A recent investigation, for instance, revealed that certain sanitizers that Eskbiochem SA de CV produced in Mexico contained methanol. The FDA tested samples of Lavar 70 Gel Hand Sanitizer (NDC: 74589-006-01) and found that it contained 81% methanol and no ethyl alcohol. The FDA also determined that Eskbiochem’s ClearCare NoGerm sanitizer contained 28% methanol. The agency recommends that people not use sanitizer made by Eskibiochem.

Recently, the FDA announced that Saniderm Products and UVT Inc. were recalling Saniderm Advanced Hand Sanitizer that was packaged in 1-liter plastic bottles and labeled with “Made in Mexico.” Eskbiochem SA de CV produced the sanitizer. The UVT hand sanitizer is labeled with lot number 0530 and an expiration date of 04/2022. The Saniderm Products hand sanitizer is labeled with lot number 53131626 and “Manufactured on April/1/20.”

“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,” the FDA said in a statement. “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.”

The FDA encourages healthcare professionals, consumers and patients to report adverse events or quality problems experienced with the use of hand sanitizers to the agency’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program.

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