More than half of hand sanitizers imported from Mexico contain dangerous levels of toxic ingredients and should not be used by consumers, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. In January alone, more than 900 accidental poisonings with hand sanitizer were reported in the United States, the overwhelming majority of young children.
The FDA issued a nationwide import alert Tuesday for alcohol-based hand sanitizers from Mexico, the agency’s latest attempt to address a pandemic-induced peak in products contaminated with methanol or wood alcohol. The substance, which in most cases does not appear as an ingredient on labels, can be toxic when absorbed through the skin and can be life-threatening when ingested.
“While people who use these products on their hands are at risk for methanol poisoning, younger children who ingest these products and adolescents and adults who drink these products as a substitute for alcohol are at higher risk.” , the FDA noted.
The increase in the use of hand sanitizers has caused a increased accidental poisonings, most children. According to data from the National Poison Data System, 938 cases of exposure to hand sanitizer were reported at 55 U.S. poison control centers over a 10-day period, from January 1, 2021 to January 10, 2021. January, 57% more than a year ago. Of these cases, about 600 involved children 5 years of age or younger.
“Throughout the ongoing pandemic, the agency has seen a sharp increase in hand sanitizers from Mexico that were labeled to contain ethanol (also known as ethyl alcohol), but that tested positive for contamination. for methanol, ”the FDA stated.
Long list of withdrawals
For months, the FDA has warned consumers to use a long list of methanol-containing hand sanitizers, considering them a serious safety concern that had led to blindness, hospitalizations and death. Exposure to methanol can also cause nausea, vomiting, headaches, blurred vision, seizures, coma, and permanent damage to the nervous system, according to the agency.
“Consumer use of hand sanitizers has increased significantly during the coronavirus pandemic, especially when soap and water are not accessible, and the availability of poor quality products with dangerous and unacceptable ingredients will not be tolerated.” , said Judy McMeekin, associate commissioner for FDA affairs, said Tuesday in the statement.
The import alert, the agency’s first for any pharmaceutical category, he said, follows an FDA analysis that found 84% of hand sanitizers from Mexico tested from April to in December 2020 they did not comply with FDA regulations. Most samples contained hazardous amounts of toxic ingredients, including methanol and / or 1-propanol.
Shipments of hand sanitizers from Mexico can now be stopped by the FDA and will be subject to intense scrutiny, the agency said.