The U.S Food and Drug Administration(FDA) warns consumers about alcohol-based hand sanitizers because they are being packaged in containers that may look like food or drinks and can put consumers at risk of critical injury or death if it is ingested. The agency found that a few sanitizers are being packaged in children’s food pouches, water bottles, cans, juice bottles. Not only that, but the FDA has also discovered hand sanitizers contain food flavors like raspberry or chocolate.
FDA Warns Consumers about Hand Sanitizer Packaged in Food and Drink Containers
FDA Commissioner Stephen M. Hahn, M.D stated that “I am increasingly concerned about hand sanitizer being packaged to appear to be consumable products, such as baby food or beverages. These products could confuse consumers into accidentally ingesting a potentially deadly product. It’s dangerous to add scents with food flavors to hand sanitizers which children could think smells like food, eat and get alcohol poisoning.”
He said further, “Manufacturers should be vigilant about packaging and marketing their hand sanitizers in food or drink packages in an effort to mitigate any potential inadvertent use by consumers. The FDA continues to monitor these products and we’ll take appropriate actions as needed to protect the health of Americans.”
One of the consumer confessions, FDA received a report that a consumer bought a bottle by thinking it was a drinking water but was actually a hand sanitizer. The agency also received another report which is declaring that a retailer is marketing hand sanitizer and the product sold with cartoons for kids which was in a pouch. It was similar to a snack package. Consuming a small amount of hand sanitizer is potentially lethal to children, who may be attracted to the tempting fragrance or vibrant color of hand sanitizer.
Hand sanitizers can be toxic when consumed. The FDA continuously witnesses several adverse incidents with hand sanitizer ingestion that include effects on the central nervous system, cardiac effects, hospitalizations, and death reported by poison control centers and state departments of health. Consumers should learn more information provided by the FDA regarding the safe usage of hand sanitizer.
The FDA urges health care professionals, patients, and consumers to report such adverse events or problems experienced with the usage of hand sanitizer. FDA also encourages retailers to eliminate these products from store shelves and online marketplaces. FDA enclosed a list of hand sanitizers and urges consumers not to buy those hand sanitizers.
FDA Warns about Dangerous Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizers Containing Methanol
FDA keeps on warning consumers and health care professionals not to use alcohol-based hand sanitizers because they contain deadly methanol or wood alcohol that is commonly utilized to create fuel and antifreeze. Methanol can be toxic when consumed through the skin and life-threatening if ingested. The agency makes sure to strictly monitor and take serious action to prevent certain hand sanitizer from usage in the USA. FDA rejects such hand sanitizers to sell at the online marketplace as well as store shelves. FDA offers a warning letter to Eskbiochem S.A. de C.V. regarding the supply of products labelled as manufactured with methanol and also misleading by stating incorrectly that FDA approved these hand sanitizers and improper manufacturing methods.
F Stephen M. Hahn, M.D said, “Practicing good hand hygiene, which includes using alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not readily available, is an important public health tool for all Americans to employ. Consumers must also be vigilant about which hand sanitizers they use, and for their health and safety we urge consumers to immediately stop using all hand sanitizers on the FDA’s list of dangerous hand sanitizer products.” Further added, “We remain extremely concerned about the potential serious risks of alcohol-based hand sanitizers containing methanol. Producing, importing and distributing toxic hand sanitizers pose a serious threat to the public and will not be tolerated. The FDA will take additional action as necessary and will continue to provide the latest information on this issue for the health and safety of consumers.”
