Toxic Hand Sanitizer Recall & Methanol Poisoning

The Lyon Firm is currently investigating hand sanitizer recall cases and injuries related to toxic hand sanitizer products. Contact an experienced consumer safety attorney for potential compensation.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has expanded a list of potentially toxic hand sanitizers that have been sold to consumers throughout the country. The recalled toxic hand sanitizers could be hazardous as well as ineffective. Reports have shown over a hundred products that have an inadequate level of alcohol and some that contain methanol.

The FDA continues to warn consumers about a rising number of adverse events and injuries linked to contaminated and toxic hand sanitizers. Health complications have been reported to the safety agency, and the FDA warns that worst case scenarios of mishandling these toxic hand sanitizers include death, blindness, and heart and nervous system issues.

The hand sanitizer products in question are labeled to contain ethanol (ethyl alcohol) but some have tested positive for methanol. Methanol can be toxic when absorbed through the skin and may be life-threatening when ingested.

Joe Lyon is a Cincinnati, Ohio consumer safety lawyer handling product liability cases, and filing personal injury lawsuits on behalf of injured plaintiffs nationwide.

Toxic Hand Sanitizer Recalls

The FDA has stressed to companies and consumers that methanol is not an acceptable ingredient for hand sanitizers due to its toxic potential. In light of the Covid-19 pandemic, a number of companies that would not otherwise be producing such products have tried their hand at sanitizing products.

Because regulation may be too relaxed, some dangerous consumer products have entered the market. As a result, companies may be held responsible for a failure to test, market and sell safe products.

Young children who may accidently ingest these products are most at risk. Consumers who have been exposed to toxic hand sanitizer and methanol in relatively high amounts are experiencing methanol poisoning symptoms which may include the following:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Headache
• Blurred vision
• Seizures
• Coma

FDA Safety Warnings

At least 200 potentially toxic hand sanitizers have been flagged by the F.D.A. The F.D.A. also identified several products that had inadequate amounts of benzalkonium chloride, an antimicrobial chemical. Nearly all of the recalled hand sanitizers are manufactured in Mexico and have been sold in the United States at Walmart, Costco, BJ’s Wholesale Club, and Target.

As early as June 2020, the agency started to warn consumers to avoid nine hand sanitizer products that contained methanol. The agency also issued an advisory announcing that testing found four hand sanitizers with “low levels of ethyl alcohol or isopropyl alcohol.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that consumers use alcohol-based hand sanitizers with at least 60 percent ethanol. Some of the products that may not meet such standards include NeoNatural, Medicare Alcohol Antiseptic Topical Solution, Datsen Hand Sanitizer and Alcohol Antiseptic 62 Percent Hand Sanitizer.

If you or a loved one has suffered an injury due to a recalled sanitizer or toxic hand sanitizer or another dangerous consumer product, contact the Lyon Firm for a free and confidential consultation at 800.513.2403. You will speak to Joe Lyon to discuss your legal options.