Another hand sanitizer is being recalled due to the potential presence of methanol, or wood alcohol. ITECH 361 is recalling nearly 19,000 bottles of its All Clean Hand Sanitizer, Moisturizer and Disinfectant sold in one liter bottles.
In June, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advised the public against using the All Clean Hand Sanitizer, by the same company, in a list of products it deemed toxic. Now, the All Clean Hand Sanitizer, Moisturizer, and Disinfectant is being voluntarily recalled for potentially containing methanol.
According to the company's risk statement, substantial methanol exposure can result in nausea, vomiting, headache, blurred vision, permanent blindness, seizures, coma, permanent damage to the nervous system or death.
The statement also says that young children who could accidentally ingest the hand sanitizer are more at risk for methanol poisoning. However, ITECH 361 has not received reports of adverse reactions.
The All Clean Hand Sanitizer and Moisturizer was distributed nationwide to wholesale distributors and retailers and the product being recalled features the UPC Code 628055370130.
ITECH 361 is notifying its distributors of the recall and is arranging for return, replacement, or refund of all recalled products.
This latest recall comes following the FDA's recommendation against using 14 other hand sanitizer products. In June, the FDA advised the public against using nine hand sanitizers manufactured in Mexico, including the All-Clean Hand Sanitizer.
The other hand sanitizers that were included in the FDA's initial announcement were Esk Biochem Hand Sanitizer, CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 75 percent Alcohol, Lavar 70 Gel Hand Sanitizer, The Good Gel Antibacterial Gel Hand Sanitizer, CleanCare, NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 80 percent Alcohol, CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 75 percent Alcohol, CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 80 percent Alcohol, and Saniderm Advanced Hand Sanitizer.
Similarly to the All Clean Hand Sanitizer that is being recalled, the FDA said that these hand sanitizers are toxic due to the potential presence of methanol.
Earlier this week, the FDA added five more hand sanitizer products to its list, which were Grupo Insoma's Hand sanitizer Gel Unscented 70 percent Alcohol, Soluciones Cosmeticas' Bersih Hand Sanitizer Gel Fragrance Free, Soluciones Cosmeticas' Antiseptic Alcohol 70 percent Topical Solution hand sanitizer, Transliquid Technologies' Mystic Shield Protection Topical Solution, and Tropicosmeticos' Britz Hand Sanitizer Ethyl Alcohol 70 percent.
The FDA recommends that consumers "stop using these hand sanitizers and dispose of them immediately in appropriate hazardous waste containers. Do not flush or pour these products down the drain."
The FDA is encouraging consumers who have been exposed to hand sanitizer containing methanol to seek immediate treatment, "which is critical for [the] potential reversal of toxic effects of methanol poisoning."
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says: "CDC recommends washing hands with soap and water whenever possible because handwashing reduces the amounts of all types of germs and chemicals on hands. But if soap and water are not available, using a hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol can help you avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others."
