FDA Warns That Two Dozen Hand Sanitizers Could Contain Toxic Wood Alcohol

The Food and Drug Administration announced they were adding over two dozen hand sanitizers to a list of products that may be toxic. As consumers rushed to buy hand sanitizers because of the coronavirus pandemic, many stores started to run out of the product.

While companies tried to produce more bottles of hand sanitizers to meet the growing demand, the FDA noticed "a sharp increase in hand sanitizer products that are labeled to contain ethanol (also known as ethyl alcohol) but that have tested positive for methanol contamination."

In high doses, methanol can be fatal if consumed. Ingesting methanol can cause blindness, nausea, headaches, dizziness, agitation, amnesia, coma, and seizures.

The FDA noted that many of the products, which are mostly made in Mexico, have been voluntarily recalled by the companies that manufactured them.

The FDA has found 55 different hand sanitizers that were contaminated with methanol. You can view the entire list on the FDA's methanol update page.

Photo: Getty Images


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