Which Hand Sanitizers Are Being Recalled? 115 Products Are on the FDA's List

• The Food and Drug Administration has updated its recall list to include 115 different hand sanitizers due to failing standards on randomized tests.
• Many products have tested positive for methanol, a type of alcohol that is toxic when ingested and may be harmful when applied directly to the skin. Others have indicated insufficient levels of alcohol overall, rendering those sanitizers ineffective per FDA guidelines.
• Nearly all products are manufactured in Mexico and contain expiration dates into 2022. They have been sold in the United States at various retailers, including Walmart, Costco, BJ's Wholesale Club, and Target, among others.

Hand sanitizer is a great way to keep your hands clean while in public. Safety officials at the Food and Drug Administration are warning Americans that not all hand sanitizers are made equal, however, and some may actually not be cleaning your hands effectively. The agency has been continuously sampling hand sanitizers, announcing that a growing list of brands have tested positive for methanol, a type of alcohol that can be toxic when applied to your hands and is dangerous when ingested. "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's safety warning reads.

The most recent update to the FDA's announcement also indicates that some "hand sanitizers have concerningly low levels of ethyl alcohol or isopropyl alcohol." They've updated their list (which has grown past 100 products in total) to also include hand sanitizers that don't have enough alcohol in them. The FDA's list stands at 115 different hand sanitizing products. Most of the products are labeled as "Made in Mexico" according to the FDA; they also have multiple expiration dates (some into 2022), and multiple product codes. According to reports from the Miami Herald, a few of the products on the FDA's list were previously sold at Walmart stores in states across the country as well as Target locations nationwide. As more voluntary recalls are issued, the Washington Post also reports that some products have been pulled from Costco and BJ's Wholesale Club as well.

Certain quantities of alcohol are indeed necessary in hand sanitizers — the FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend using products that contain at least 60% ethanol alcohol — but methanol isn't comparable to other agents often used in effective sanitizers. Birnur Aral, PhD, the director of the health, beauty, and environmental sciences lab in the Good Housekeeping Institute, says that absorbing methanol through your skin can lead to "nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, blindness, coma, and even death" when used frequently. "Methanol metabolizes in the body through formation of formaldehyde (a known carcinogen); it converts into formic acid in the body, which can cause histotoxic hypoxia and acidosis." Furthermore, products containing methanol may not actually list the ingredient on its packaging or ingredient's list, the FDA says in it's latest warning.

Which hand sanitizers are toxic or ineffective?

The FDA is continually updating their warning list of National Drug Code registry numbers (NDC numbers) for hand sanitizers containing methanol as well as products that have too-low alcohol contents. As of August 4, the FDA's recall list includes the following 115 variations on the agency's full list, where you may also view NDC numbers. Recent additions include the following:

• Biokaab Inc. dgreen Advanced Sanitizer Alcohol Free (with multiple NDCs).
  
• Biokaab Inc. Hand Sanitizer (with multiple NDCs).
• Spartan Chemical Co Inc. Lite ’n Foamy Lemon Blossom Hand Sanitizer (with multiple NDCs).
• Datsen Hand Sanitizer (NDC not listed).
• Clean Humans Hand Sanitizer (NDC not listed).
• Greenfrog Hand Sanitizing Wipes (with multiple NDCs).
• Roque Plast SA de CV's Command Gel AntiBac Instant Hand Sanitizer (NDC: 50058-100-08)
• Albek de Mexico's NuuxSan Instant Hand Sanitizer (with multiple NDCs)
• Leiper's Fork Distillery Disinfectant both in bulk and 16-oz bottles (NDC not listed).

The full list can be found below:

• Blumen Clear Advanced Hand Sanitizer with 70% Alcohol
• Blumen Advanced Instant Hand Sanitizer Clear Ethyl Alcohol 70%
• BLUMEN Advanced Instant Hand Sanitizer Clear
• BLUMEN Advanced Instant Hand Sanitizer Clear
• KLAR AND DANVER Instant Hand Sanitizer
• MODESA Instant Hand Sanitizer Moisturizers and Vitamin E
• BLUMEN Advanced Hand Sanitizer
• BLUMEN Advanced Hand Sanitizer
• BLUMEN Advanced Hand Sanitizer Aloe
• BLUMEN Advanced Instant Hand Sanitizer Lavender
• BLUMEN Clear Advanced Hand Sanitizer
• BLUMEN Clear Advanced Hand Sanitizer
• BLUMEN Clear LEAR Advanced Hand Sanitizer
• BLUMEN Clear LEAR Advanced Hand Sanitizer
• BLUMEN Advanced Hand Sanitizer Clear
• BLUMEN Clear Advanced Instant Hand Sanitizer
• BLUMEN Clear Advanced Instant Hand Sanitizer Aloe
• BLUMEN Clear Advanced Instant Hand Sanitizer Lavender
• BLUMEN Aloe Advanced Hand Sanitizer, with 70 Alcohol
• BLUMEN Aloe Advanced Hand Sanitizer, with 70 Alcohol
• Blumen Advanced Hand Sanitizer Lavender, with 70% alcohol
• Blumen Advanced Hand Sanitizer Aloe, with 70% alcohol
• Blumen Antibacterial Fresh Citrus Hand Sanitizer
• Blumen Hand Sanitizer Fresh Citrus
• KLAR and DANVER Instant Hand Sanitizer
• The Honeykeeper Hand Sanitizer
• Hello Kitty Hand Sanitizer
• Assured Instant Hand Sanitizer (Vitamin E and Aloe)
• Assured Instant Hand Sanitizer (Aloe and Moisturizers)
• Assured Instant Hand Sanitizer Vitamin E and Aloe
• Assured Instant Hand Sanitizer Aloe and Moisturizers
• BLUMEN Instant Hand Sanitizer Fragrance Free
• BLUMEN Instant Hand Sanitizer Aloe Vera
• 4E Global SAPI de CV's Assured Aloe
• bio aaa Advance Hand Sanitizer
• LumiSkin Advance Hand Sanitizer 4 oz
• LumiSkin Advance Hand Sanitizer 16 oz
• QualitaMed Hand Sanitizer
• NEXT Hand Sanitizer
• Clear Advanced Hand Sanitizer with 70% Alcohol extra soft with glycerin and aloe
• NuuxSan Instant Antibacterial Hand Sanitizer
• NuuxSan Instant Hand Sanitizer
• Assured Instant Antiseptic Hand Sanitizer with Aloe and Moisturizers
• Assured Instant Antiseptic Hand Sanitizer with Vitamin E and Aloe
• Modesa Instant Antiseptic Hand Sanitizer with Moisturizers and Aloe Vera
• Modesa Instant Antiseptic Hand Sanitizer with Moisturizers and Vitamin E
• Herbacil Antiseptic Hand Sanitizer 70% Alcohol
• Herbacil Antiseptic Hand Sanitizer 70% Alcohol
• Herbacil Antiseptic Hand Sanitizer 70% Alcohol
• Earths Amenities Instant Unscented Hand Sanitizer with Aloe Vera Advanced
• Agavespa Skincare's Hand Sanitizer
• Vidanos Easy Cleaning Rentals Hand Sanitizer Agavespa Skincare
• Eskobiochem's All-Clean Hand Sanitizer
• Esk Biochem Hand Sanitizer
• Lavar 70 Gel Hand Sanitizer
• The Good Gel Antibacterial Gel Hand Sanitizer
• CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 80% Alcohol (multiple sizes)
• CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 75% Alcohol
• Saniderm Advanced Hand Sanitizer
• Grupo Insoma's Hand Sanitizer Gel Unscented 70% Alcohol
• Medicare Alcohol Antiseptic Topical Solution
• GelBact Hand Sanitizer
• Hand Sanitizer
• TriCleanz
• Sayab Antisepctic Hand Sanitizer 100
• Jaloma Antiseptic Hand Sanitizer Ethyl Alcohol 62% with Vitamin E
• Leiper's Fork Distillery Bulk Disinfectant per 5 gallon and Leiper's Fork Distillery 16 oz bottle
• Andy's Best
• Andy's
• NeoNatural
• Plus Advanced
• Optimus Instant Hand Sanitizer
• Optimus Lubricants Instant Hand Sanitizer
• Optimus Instant Hand Sanitizer
• Selecto Hand Sanitizer
• Shine and Clean Hand Sanitizer
• Hand Sanitizer Disinfectant Gel 70% Ethyl Alcohol
• Hand Sanitizer Disinfectant Gel 70% Ethyl Alcohol Rinse Free Hand Rub
• Mystic Shield Protection hand sanitizer
• Born Basic. Anti-Bac Hand Sanitizer 70% alcohol
• Born Basic. Anti-Bac Hand Sanitizer 65% Alcohol
• Scent Theory -- Keep It Clean -- Pure Clean Anti-bacterial Hand Sanitizer
• Cavalry
• ENLIVEN Hand Sanitizing Gel
• Lux Eoi Hand Sanitizing Gel
• Scent Theory -- Keep It Clean -- Pure Clean Anti-bacterial Hand Sanitizer
• Bersih Hand Sanitizer Gel Fragrance Free
• Bersih Antiseptic Alcohol 70% Topical Solution hand sanitizer
• Purity Advanced Hand Sanitizer
• Hand Sanitizer Gel Alcohol 70%
• TriCleanz Tritanium Labs Hand Sanitizer
• Britz Hand Sanitizer Ethyl Alcohol 70%
• Parabola Hand Sanitizer
• Urbane Bath and Body Hand Sanitizer
• Cleaner Hand Sanitizer Rinse Free 70%
• Handzer Hand Sanitizer Rinse Free
• Kleanz Antibacterial Hand Sanitizer Advanced
• Be Safe Hand Sanitizer
• Wave Hand Sanitizer Gel
• DAESI Hand Sanitizer

The FDA shared that methanol "is not an acceptable active ingredient for hand sanitizers, and must not be used due to its toxic effects." The FDA is asking customers to safely dispose of the sanitizer in question (view full lists here and here). Additionally, the FDA says its working to correct "false and misleading" claims on hand sanitizers being sold during the COVID-19 pandemic — primarily, on those that promise 24-hour protection against viruses like COVID-19.

The best way to keep your hands clean continues to be thoroughly washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, as hand sanitizer is designed to temporarily clean hands when you can't access a sink. Aral advises checking the hand sanitizers' drug facts before you buy, looking for one of the following active ingredients: Ethyl Alcohol (Ethanol Alcohol for short) at 60— 95% in the entire formula; Isopropyl Alcohol, or Isopropanol at 70— 91.3% in the entire formula; or Benzalkonium Chloride, usually at less than 1%. "As hand sanitizers are regulated as over-the-counter drugs, the legitimate ones should have a Drugs Facts label like sunscreens," Aral shares. "Avoid purchasing or using hand sanitizers without such labels as they might now have been properly formulated and/or manufactured."

OUR HAND SANITIZERS

Our Hand Sanitizer Spray is Made in the USA with 70% ETHANOL (Approved by FDA and 100% safe) We used key ingredients like Lavender Essential Oil and Vitamin E to ensure your hands stay moisturized and don't get dry.

SHOP HERE.

Article Credit; Good House Keeping & NY Times.