The Ministry of Health and Social Development, in a press release on September 7, 2020, said it is alerting the public to the counterfeit hand sanitisers as they appear as genuine products but contain the active ingredients in a toxic gel methanol or methyl alcohol and 1-propanol or propyl alcohol that may result in death. Photo: FDA

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the US is recommending that people who have the hand sanitizers that contain toxic substances to dispose of them in hazardous waste containers and not flush or pour them down the drain. Photo: FDA

Alcohol-based hand sanitisers containing at least 70% of alcohol are effective against the novel coronavirus. Photo: New York Times

The Ministry of Health and Social Development, in a press release on September 7, 2020, said it is alerting the public to the counterfeit hand sanitisers as they appear as genuine products but contain the active ingredients in a toxic gel methanol or methyl alcohol and 1-propanol or propyl alcohol that may result in death.

FDA warning

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the US, in June 2020, had warned the public about nine hand sanitiser products that may be contaminated.

“The FDA is advising the public to avoid hand sanitiser created by Eskbiochem SA de CV in Mexico, due to the potential presence of methanol, or wood alcohol, a substance that can be toxic when absorbed through the skin or ingested,” the FDA had warned.

The FDA had said they contacted Eskbiochem to recommend the company remove its hand sanitiser from the market due to the risk on June 17, 2020. However, they said the company has not taken any action.

“The FDA is now recommending that people who have the hand sanitisers to dispose of them in hazardous waste containers. Do not flush or pour them down the drain.”

Ingredients Methanol & 1-Propanol can lead to death

Methanol, methyl alcohol or Wood Alcohol is used to make rocket fuel and antifreeze. The use of methanol can cause methanol poisoning and should never be applied to the skin as a rub or ingested. Using hand sanitisers that contain methanol can cause serious health problems such as poor or no coordination, vomiting, abdominal pain, decreased vision that may start as early as twelve (12) hours after exposure. Usage can also cause long term affects such as blindness, kidney failure and death. 

1-Propanol or 1-propyl alcohol is used to make industrial solvents (a type of cleaner) and can be toxic if swallowed. Using hand sanitizers made with 1-propanol can cause skin or eye irritation, decreased breathing and heart rate, and may lead to death.

4 deaths reported in USA

The Food and Drug Administration has reported four (4) deaths because of methanol poisoning.

The Ministry of Health and Social Development is also advising individuals not to taste their hands or drink any hand sanitiser in place of alcoholic drink as this is also dangerous and has resulted in the death of individual due to alcohol poisoning.

Supervise young children

The use of hand sanitisers by young children should be supervised so that they do not overuse the liquid and taste their hands with the sanitisers on them.

Additionally, hand sanitisers should not be used on pets’ paws or skin, as this can cause alcohol poisoning, serious health problems, and death in animals. Animal owners are asked to contact their veterinarian immediately if their pet has been exposed to hand sanitisers.

What to purchase?

Persons are asked to purchase hand sanitisers with 60 percent or above of Ethyl alcohol or Isopropyl alcohol and to practice safety during application.

The public is also reminded that the hands should be allowed to air dry after applying the hand sanitiser and not wiped dry as this renders the hand sanitiser ineffective and that hand sanitiser should be used only when hand washing is not possible, and that hands should be washed for a minimum of 20 seconds.