FDA warning: These hand sanitizers may be toxic

Hand sanitizer manufactured by Eskbiochem may contain methanol.

You’ve heard it a thousand times at this point: One of the best ways to prevent the spread of the deadly coronavirus is to wash your hands regularly. And if you’re not near soap and water, reach for the hand sanitizer.

But now the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning that nine brands of the coveted product may actually be toxic.

According to the agency, hand sanitizer manufactured by Eskbiochem may contain methanol, or wood alcohol, which can be toxic when absorbed through the skin or ingested.

Methanol shouldn’t be in any hand sanitizer. The FDA recommends using hand sanitizers that contain at least 60 percent ethanol. But the FDA found that samples of Lavar Gel contained an eye-popping 81 percent methanol and no ethyl alcohol.

The nine brands the FDA warns against using are:

• 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)

The FDA is not aware of any reports of people suffering negative consequences associated with these hand sanitizers. But people exposed to methanol can experience everything from nausea and headaches to permanent damage to the nervous system and even death.

While the agency urges anyone who has been exposed to methanol to seek immediate treatment, that’s especially true for young children who might accidentally eat the sanitizer and teens and adults who deliberately drink the products as a substitute for alcohol.

The FDA said it contacted Eskbiochem last week to recommend the company take its hand sanitizers off the market. But as of this past weekend, the agency said the company had not complied with the request.