Health officials are warning against use of a growing list of possibly toxic hand sanitizers. (UPDATED AUG 4)
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found that many of the following hand sanitizers were contaminated with methanol, a wood alcohol used to make fuel and anti-freeze, that can be absorbed through the skin and make you sick and even cause death or blindness when swallowed. Others had far less alcohol content than advertised, making them ineffective as hand sanitizers. Others contained microbial contamination.
Some were sold at U.S. major retailers like Target and Walmart.
The U.S. FDA's website has the following statement: "FDA is warning consumers and health care providers that the agency has seen 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. Methanol, or wood alcohol, is a substance that can be toxic when absorbed through the skin or ingested and can be life-threatening when ingested."
Target's "Born Basic" sanitizer and Walmart's "Scent Theory" are among the growing list of products being recalled for potential methanol contamination.
The FDA also warns customers to be on the lookout for hand sanitizers claiming to be "FDA-approved" since there are no hand sanitizers approved by the FDA.
UPDATED AUG 4 - find the newest items to be added to the FDA's list of hand sanitizers consumers should not use.
Product - Manufacturer
Greenfrog Hand Sanitizer - Notarika SA de CV (Mexico)
Jaloma Antiseptic Hand Sanitizer Ethyl Alcohol 62% with Vitamin E - Laboratorios Jaloma SA de CV (Mexico)
Leiper's Fork Distillery Bulk Disinfectant per 5 gallon and Leiper's Fork Distillery 16 oz bottle - Leiper's Fork Distillery (Tennessee)
Optimus Instant Hand Sanitizer - Liqesa Exportacion or Liq-E-S.A. de CV (Mexico)
dgreen Advanced Sanitizer Alcohol Free - DEPQ Internacional S de RL de CV (Mexico)
dgreen Advanced Hand Sanitizer Antibacterial Gel - DEPQ Internacional S de RL de CV (Mexico)
Hand Sanitizer - DEPQ Internacional S de RL de CV (Mexico)
Hand Sanitizer Gel - DEPQ Internacional S de RL de CV (Mexico)
Clean Humans Hand Sanitizer - DEPQ Internacional S de RL de CV (Mexico)
Greenfrog Hand Sanitizing wipes - Notarika SA de CV (Mexico)
Datsen Hand Sanitizer - Quimica Magna de Mexico SA de CV (Mexico)
Alcohol Antiseptic 62% Hand Sanitizer - Quimica Magna de Mexico SA de CV (Mexico)
Bernal Hand Sanitizer - Quimica Magna de Mexico SA de CV (Mexico)
Alcohol Antiseptic 65% Hand Sanitizer; Alcohol Antiseptic 70% Hand Sanitizer - Quimica Magna de Mexico SA de CV (Mexico)
Command Gel AntiBac Instant hand sanitizer - Roque Plast SA de CV (Mexico)
Lite'n Foamy Lemon Blossom Hand Sanitizer - Spartan Chemical Co Inc. (Ohio)
foamyiQ Lemon Blossom Hand Sanitizer - Spartan Chemical Co Inc. (Ohio)
Medicare Alcohol Antiseptic Topical Solution - Healthy Foods & Nutrition Lab de Mexico SA de CV (Mexico)
GelBact Hand Sanitizer - Incredible Products SA de CV (Mexico)
Hand Sanitizer - Incredible Products SA de CV (Mexico)
TriCleanz - Incredible Products SA de CV (Mexico)
Sayab Antisepctic Hand Sanitizer 100 - JG Atlas Comercios SA de CV (Mexico)
TriCleanz Tritanium Labs Hand Sanitizer - Tritanium Labs USA LLC
NEXT Hand Sanitizer - Albek de Mexico SA de CV (Mexico)
NuuxSan Instant Antibacterial Hand Sanitizer - Albek de Mexico SA de CV (Mexico)
NuuxSan Instant Hand Sanitizer - Albek de Mexico SA de CV (Mexico)
Assured Instant Antiseptic Hand Sanitizer with Aloe and Moisturizers - Albek de Mexico SA de CV (Mexico)
Assured Instant Antiseptic Hand Sanitizer with Vitamin E and Aloe - Albek de Mexico SA de CV (Mexico)
Modesa Instant Antiseptic Hand Sanitizer with Moisturizers and Aloe Vera - Albek de Mexico SA de CV (Mexico)
Modesa Instant Antiseptic Hand Sanitizer with Moisturizers and Vitamin E - Albek de Mexico SA de CV (Mexico)
Here are the products the FDA previously warned against using.
Product - Manufacturer
All-Clean Hand Sanitizer - Eskbiochem SA de CV (Mexico)
Andy's - Limpo Quimicos SA de CV (Mexico)
Andy's Best - Limpo Quimicos SA de CV (Mexico)
Antiseptic Alcohol 70% Topical Solution hand sanitizer - Soluciones Cosmeticas SA de CV (Mexico)
Assured Aloe - 4E Global, SAPI de CV (Mexico)
Assured Instant Hand Sanitizer (Aloe and Moisturizers) - 4E Global, SAPI de CV (Mexico)
Assured Instant Hand Sanitizer (Vitamin E and Aloe) - 4E Global, SAPI de CV (Mexico)
Assured Instant Hand Sanitizer Aloe and Moisturizers - 4E Global, SAPI de CV (Mexico)
Assured Instant Hand Sanitizer Vitamin E and Aloe - 4E Global, SAPI de CV (Mexico)
Be Safe Hand Sanitizer - Tropicosmeticos SA de CV (Mexico)
Bersih Hand Sanitizer Gel Fragrance Free - Soluciones Cosmeticas SA de CV (Mexico)
bio aaa Advance Hand Sanitizer - AAA Cosmetica (Mexico)
BLUMEN Advanced Hand Sanitizer - 4E Global, SAPI de CV (Mexico)
BLUMEN Advanced Hand Sanitizer - 4E Global, SAPI de CV (Mexico)
BLUMEN Advanced Hand Sanitizer Aloe - 4E Global, SAPI de CV (Mexico)
Blumen Advanced Hand Sanitizer Aloe, with 70% alcohol - 4E Global, SAPI de CV (Mexico)
BLUMEN Advanced Hand Sanitizer Clear - 4E Global, SAPI de CV (Mexico)
Blumen Advanced Hand Sanitizer Lavender, with 70% alcohol - 4E Global, SAPI de CV (Mexico)
BLUMEN Advanced Instant Hand Sanitizer Clear - 4E Global, SAPI de CV (Mexico)
BLUMEN Advanced Instant Hand Sanitizer Clear - 4E Global, SAPI de CV (Mexico)
Blumen Advanced Instant Hand Sanitizer Clear Ethyl Alcohol 70% - 4E Global, SAPI de CV (Mexico)
BLUMEN Advanced Instant Hand Sanitizer Lavender - 4E Global, SAPI de CV (Mexico)
BLUMEN Aloe Advanced Hand Sanitizer, with 70 Alcohol - 4E Global, SAPI de CV (Mexico)
BLUMEN Aloe Advanced Hand Sanitizer, with 70 Alcohol - 4E Global, SAPI de CV (Mexico)
Blumen Antibacterial Fresh Citrus Hand Sanitizer - 4E Global, SAPI de CV (Mexico)
BLUMEN Clear Advanced Hand Sanitizer - 4E Global, SAPI de CV (Mexico)
BLUMEN Clear Advanced Hand Sanitizer - 4E Global, SAPI de CV (Mexico)
Blumen Clear Advanced Hand Sanitizer with 70% Alcohol - 4E Global, SAPI de CV (Mexico)
BLUMEN Clear Advanced Instant Hand Sanitizer - 4E Global, SAPI de CV (Mexico)
BLUMEN Clear Advanced Instant Hand Sanitizer Aloe - 4E Global, SAPI de CV (Mexico)
BLUMEN Clear Advanced Instant Hand Sanitizer Lavender - 4E Global, SAPI de CV (Mexico)
BLUMEN Clear LEAR Advanced Hand Sanitizer - 4E Global, SAPI de CV (Mexico)
BLUMEN Clear LEAR Advanced Hand Sanitizer - 4E Global, SAPI de CV (Mexico)
Blumen Hand Sanitizer Fresh Citrus - 4E Global, SAPI de CV (Mexico)
BLUMEN Instant Hand Sanitizer Aloe Vera - 4E Global, SAPI de CV (Mexico)
BLUMEN Instant Hand Sanitizer Fragrance Free - 4E Global, SAPI de CV (Mexico)
Born Basic Anti-Bac Hand Sanitizer 65% Alcohol - Real Clean Distribuciones SA de CV (Mexico)
Born Basic Anti-Bac Hand Sanitizer 70% alcohol - Real Clean Distribuciones SA de CV (Mexico)
Britz Hand Sanitizer Ethyl Alcohol 70% - Tropicosmeticos SA de CV (Mexico)
Cavalry - Real Clean Distribuciones SA de CV (Mexico)
CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 75% Alcohol - Eskbiochem SA de CV (Mexico)
CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 80% Alcohol - Eskbiochem SA de CV (Mexico)
CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 80% Alcohol - Eskbiochem SA de CV (Mexico)
Cleaner Hand Sanitizer Rinse Free 70% - Tropicosmeticos SA de CV (Mexico)
DAESI Hand Sanitizer - Yara Elena De La Garza Perez Nieto (Mexico)
Earths Amenities Instant Unscented Hand Sanitizer with Aloe Vera Advanced - DDI Multinacional SA de CV (Mexico)
ENLIVEN Hand Sanitizing Gel - Real Clean Distribuciones SA de CV (Mexico)
Esk Biochem Hand Sanitizer - Eskbiochem SA de CV (Mexico)
Hand Sanitizer Agavespa Skincare - DDI Multinacional SA de CV (Mexico)
Hand Sanitizer Disinfectant Gel 70% Ethyl Alcohol - MXL Comercial SA de CV (Mexico)
Hand Sanitizer Disinfectant Gel 70% Ethyl Alcohol Rinse Free Hand Rub - MXL Comercial SA de CV (Mexico)
Hand Sanitizer Gel Alcohol 70% - Soluciones Cosmeticas SA de CV (Mexico)
Hand sanitizer Gel Unscented 70% Alcohol - Grupo Insoma, S.A.P.I de CV (Mexico)
Handzer Hand Sanitizer Rinse Free - Tropicosmeticos SA de CV (Mexico)
Hello Kitty Hand Sanitizer - 4E Global, SAPI de CV (Mexico)
Herbacil Antiseptic Hand Sanitizer 70% Alcohol - Broncolin, SA de CV (Mexico)
Herbacil Antiseptic Hand Sanitizer 70% Alcohol - Broncolin, SA de CV (Mexico)
Herbacil Antiseptic Hand Sanitizer 70% Alcohol - Broncolin, SA de CV (Mexico)
Jaloma Antiseptic Hand Sanitizer Ethyl Alcohol 62% with Vitamin E - Laboratorios Jaloma, SA de CV (Mexico)
KLAR and DANVER Instant Hand Sanitizer - 4E Global, SAPI de CV (Mexico)
KLAR AND DANVER Instant Hand Sanitizer (labeled with Greenbrier International Inc.) - 4E Global, SAPI de CV (Mexico)
Kleanz Antibacterial Hand Sanitizer Advanced - Tropicosmeticos SA de CV (Mexico)
Lavar 70 Gel Hand Sanitizer - Eskbiochem SA de CV (Mexico)
Leiper's Fork Distillery Bulk Disinfectant per 5 gallon and Leiper's Fork Distillery 16 oz bottle - Leiper's Fork Distillery (Tennessee)
LumiSkin Advance Hand Sanitizer 16 oz - AAA Cosmetica (Mexico)
LumiSkin Advance Hand Sanitizer 4 oz - AAA Cosmetica (Mexico)
Lux Eoi Hand Sanitizing Gel - Real Clean Distribuciones SA de CV (Mexico)
MODESA Instant Hand Sanitizer Moisturizers and Vitamin E - 4E Global, SAPI de CV (Mexico)
Mystic Shield Protection hand sanitizer - Mystic International SA de CV (Mexico)
NeoNatural - Limpo Quimicos SA de CV (Mexico)
Optimus Instant Hand Sanitizer - Liqesa Exportacion or Liq-E-S.A. de CV (Mexico)
Optimus Instant Hand Sanitizer - Liqesa Exportacion or Liq-E-S.A. de CV (Mexico)
Optimus Lubricants Instant Hand Sanitizer - Liqesa Exportacion or Liq-E-S.A. de CV (Mexico)
Parabola Hand Sanitizer - Tropicosmeticos SA de CV (Mexico)
Plus Advanced - Limpo Quimicos SA de CV (Mexico)
QualitaMed Hand Sanitizer - AAA Cosmetica (Mexico)
Saniderm Advanced Hand Sanitizer - Eskbiochem SA de CV (Mexico)
Scent Theory "Keep It Clean" Pure Clean Anti-bacterial Hand Sanitizer - Real Clean Distribuciones SA de CV (Mexico)
Scent Theory "Keep It Clean" Pure Clean Anti-bacterial Hand Sanitizer - Real Clean Distribuciones SA de CV (Mexico)
Selecto Hand Sanitizer - Maquiladora Miniara, SA de CV (Mexico)
Shine and Clean Hand Sanitizer - Maquiladora Miniara, SA de CV (Mexico)
The Good Gel Antibacterial Gel Hand Sanitizer - Eskbiochem SA de CV (Mexico)
The Honeykeeper Hand Sanitizer - 4E Global, SAPI de CV (Mexico)
Urbane Bath and Body Hand Sanitizer - Tropicosmeticos SA de CV (Mexico)
Vidanos Easy Cleaning Rentals Hand Sanitizer Agavespa Skincare - DDI Multinacional SA de CV (Mexico)
Wave Hand Sanitizer Gel - Tropicosmeticos SA de CV (Mexico)