Hand sanitizer recall: FDA expands list of ‘toxic’ sanitizers to avoid over methanol risk

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — The Food and Drug Administration has added dozens more hand sanitizers to a list of products that should be avoided after they tested positive for methanol contamination.

There are now a total of 59 kinds of hand sanitizers on the updated list of toxic products, some of which have already been recalled while others are being recommended for recalls.

All of the hand sanitizers on the list were apparently produced in Mexico.

According to the FDA, it has seen a spike in the number of hand sanitizer products labeled to contain ethanol, but have tested positive for methanol, which can be toxic when absorbed through the skin or ingested.

The following hand sanitizer products are list as part of the recall:

• 4E Global’s Blumen Clear Advanced Hand Sanitizer with 70% Alcohol
• 4E Global’s Blumen Advanced Instant Hand Sanitizer Clear Ethyl Alcohol 70%
• 4E Global’s BLUMEN Advanced Instant Hand Sanitizer Clear
• 4E Global’s KLAR AND DANVER Instant Hand Sanitizer (labeled with Greenbrier International Inc.)
• 4E Global’s MODESA Instant Hand Sanitizer Moisturizers and Vitamin E
• 4E Global’s BLUMEN Advanced Hand Sanitizer
• 4E Global’s BLUMEN Advanced Hand Sanitizer Aloe
• 4E Global’s BLUMEN Advanced Instant Hand Sanitizer Lavender
• 4E Global’s BLUMEN Clear LEAR Advanced Hand Sanitizer
• 4E Global’s BLUEMEN Clear Advanced Hand Sanitizer
• 4E Global’s The Honeykeeper Hand Sanitizer
• 4E Global’s BLUMEN Advanced Hand Sanitizer Clear
• 4E Global’s BLUMEN Clear Advanced Instant Hand Sanitizer
• 4E Global’s BLUMEN Clear Advanced Instant Hand Sanitizer Aloe
• 4E Global’s BLUMEN Clear Advanced Instant Hand Sanitizer Lavender
• 4E Global’s BLUMEN Aloe Advanced Hand Sanitizer, with 70 Alcohol
• 4E Global’s Blumen Advanced Hand Sanitizer Lavender, with 70% alcohol
• 4E Global’s Blumen Advanced Hand Sanitizer Aloe, with 70% alcohol
• 4E Global’s Blumen Antibacterial Fresh Citrus Hand Sanitizer
• 4E Global’s Blumen Hand Sanitizer Fresh Citrus
• 4E Global’s KLAR and DANVER INSTANT HAND SANTIZER
• 4E Global’s Hello Kitty by Sanrio Hand Sanitizer
• 4E Global’s Assured Instant Hand Sanitizer (Vitamin E and Aloe)
• 4E Global’s Assured Instant Hand Sanitizer (Aloe and Moisturizers)
• 4E Global’s Assured Instant Hand Sanitizer Vitamin E and Aloe
• 4E Global’s Assured Instant Hand Sanitizer Aloe and Moisturizers
• 4E Global’s BLUMEN Instant Hand Sanitizer Fragrance Free
• 4E Global’s BLUMEN Instant Hand Sanitizer Aloe Vera
• 4E Global’s Assured Aloe
• AAA Cosmetica’s bio aaa Advance Hand Sanitizer 
• AAA Cosmetica’s LumiSkin Advance Hand Sanitizer 4 oz
• AAA Cosmetica’s LumiSkin Advance Hand Sanitizer 16 oz
• AAA Cosmetica’s QualitaMed Hand Sanitizer 
• DDI Multinacional’s Earths Amenities Instant Unscented Hand Sanitizer with Aloe Vera Advanced
• DDI Multinacional’s Hand Sanitizer Agavespa Skincare
• DDI Multinacional’s Vidanos Easy Cleaning Rentals Hand Sanitizer Agavespa Skincare
• Eskbiochem’s All-Clean Hand Sanitizer
• Eskbiochem’s Esk Biochem Hand Sanitizer
• Eskbiochem’s Lavar 70 Gel Hand Sanitizer
• Eskbiochem’s The Good Gel Antibacterial Gel Hand Sanitizer
• Eskbiochem’s CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 80% Alcohol
• Eskbiochem’s CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 75% Alcohol
• Eskbiochem’s CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 80% Alcohol
• Eskbiochem’s  Saniderm Advanced Hand Sanitizer
• Grupo Insoma’s Hand sanitizer Gel Unscented 70% Alcohol
• Limpo Quimicos’ Andy’s Best
• Limpo Quimicos’ Andy’s
• Limpo Quimicos’ Gelclor
• Limpo Quimicos’ NeoNatural
• Limpo Quimicos’ Plus Advanced
• Liqesa Exportacion or Liq-E-S.A.’s Optimus Lubricants Instant Hand Sanitizer
• Maquiladora Miniara’s Shine and Clean Hand Sanitizer
• Maquiladora Miniara’s Selecto Hand Sanitizer
• Mystic International’s Mystic Shield Protection hand sanitizer
• Soluciones Cosmeticas’ Bersih Hand Sanitizer Gel Fragrance Free
• Soluciones Cosmeticas’ Antiseptic Alcohol 70% Topical Solution hand sanitizer
• Soluciones Cosmeticas’ Hand sanitizer (labeled with Wet Look Janitorial and Gardening Corp.)
• Tropicosmeticos’ Britz Hand Sanitizer Ethyl Alcohol 70%
• Yara Elena De La Garza Perez Nieto’s DAESI hand sanitizer

The FDA had first warned consumers in June about nine hand sanitizer products to avoid due to the possible presence of methanol.

Two weeks later, more brands that tested positive for methanol were added.

“Substantial methanol exposure can result in nausea, vomiting, headache, blurred vision, permanent blindness, seizures, coma, permanent damage to the nervous system or death,” according to the FDA.

If you have any of the listed hand sanitizer products, the FDA says to dispose of them immediately in appropriate hazardous waste containers. Do not flush or pour them down the drain.