FDA Places Alert On Dangerous Mexican Hand Sanitizers Containing Methanol

The Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday issued an import alert for all Mexican alcohol-based hand sanitizers, citing “dangerous levels” of chemicals like methanol. It’s the first alert to affect imports from an entire country, reports CNBC, and will mean Mexican sanitizer imports face tougher scrutiny and seizure if they violate standards.

Fully 87% of the products tested by the FDA since April violated regulations, with more than half dangerous to consume. Methanol can be toxic with skin contact and lethal if ingested. The dangerous sanitizers were labeled as containing only comparatively benign ethanol.

“Today’s actions are necessary to protect the safe supply of alcohol-based hand sanitizers. We will continue to work with our stakeholders to ensure the availability of safe products and to communicate vital information,” said Judy McMeekin, FDA associate commissioner for regulatory affairs.

According to Tuesday’s press release, 14 warning letters have been sent out since July to the manufacturers and distributors of the products.

Young children are at the greatest risk from the products, with symptoms including vomiting, seizures, blindness, effects on the central nervous system, hospitalizations and death.

The FDA urged anyone who suspects they had been exposed to seek medical attention immediately.

Demand for hand sanitizer spiked during the COVID-19 pandemic, far outstripping even other lockdown products like toilet paper. While companies are trying to meet the 700% surge without investing too much in permanent facilities, some think demand is here to stay: Purell’s parent company doubled its facilities a decade ahead of schedule.