The FDA have recalled dozens of hand sanitizers many widely available through Walmart and other national retailers because they contain dangerous and potentially deadly levels of wood alcohol. Hand sanitizer demand has skyrocketed during the pandemic as Americans were urged to wash their hands often to guard against the coronavirus. That has sparked a rush of new brands onto the market. But since June, the Food and Drug Administration has identified at least 77 products including two this week that consumers should avoid. Many of the products’ labels say they contain ethanol (also known as ethyl alcohol) but FDA tests show that they contain methanol, or wood alcohol.
Methanol can be toxic when absorbed through the skin, the agency said in an advisory, and can cause blindness. It can be lethal if ingested.ecause the products are mislabeled, consumers would not be able to tell which hand sanitizers actually contain methanol. The FDA keeps a running tally of the recalled products on its website. The recalled products are manufactured by various companies, all in Mexico, and have been carried by such retailers as BJ’s Wholesale Club, Costco and Walmart. The FDA included several types of Blumen brand hand sanitizer on the recall list and said an import alert was attached to them earlier this month to prevent them from entering the country. FDA advises consumers not to use hand sanitizers from these companies, or products with these names or NDC numbers.
| FDA Updates on Hand Sanitizers with Methanol | FDA | ||
| Company | Date added to table | Product(s) |
| 4E Global, SAPI de CV (Mexico) | 07/08/2020 | Blumen Clear Advanced Hand Sanitizer with 70% Alcohol |
| 4E Global, SAPI de CV (Mexico) | 07/08/2020 | Blumen Advanced Instant Hand Sanitizer Clear Ethyl Alcohol 70% |
| 4E Global, SAPI de CV (Mexico) | 07/08/2020 | BLUMEN Advanced Instant Hand Sanitizer Clear |
| 4E Global, SAPI de CV (Mexico) | 07/08/2020 | BLUMEN Advanced Instant Hand Sanitizer Clear |
| 4E Global, SAPI de CV (Mexico) | 07/08/2020 | KLAR AND DANVER Instant Hand Sanitizer (labeled with Greenbrier International Inc.) |
| 4E Global, SAPI de CV (Mexico) | 07/08/2020 | MODESA Instant Hand Sanitizer Moisturizers and Vitamin E |
| 4E Global, SAPI de CV (Mexico) | 07/08/2020 | BLUMEN Advanced Hand Sanitizer |
| 4E Global, SAPI de CV (Mexico) | 07/08/2020 | BLUMEN Advanced Hand Sanitizer |
| 4E Global, SAPI de CV (Mexico) | 07/08/2020 | BLUMEN Advanced Hand Sanitizer Aloe |
| 4E Global, SAPI de CV (Mexico) | 07/08/2020 | BLUMEN Advanced Instant Hand Sanitizer Lavender |
| 4E Global, SAPI de CV (Mexico) | 07/08/2020 | BLUMEN Clear Advanced Hand Sanitizer |
| 4E Global, SAPI de CV (Mexico) | 07/08/2020 | BLUMEN Clear Advanced Hand Sanitizer |
| 4E Global, SAPI de CV (Mexico) | 07/08/2020 | BLUMEN Clear LEAR Advanced Hand Sanitizer |
| 4E Global, SAPI de CV (Mexico) | 07/08/2020 | BLUMEN Clear LEAR Advanced Hand Sanitizer |
| 4E Global, SAPI de CV (Mexico) | 07/08/2020 | The Honeykeeper Hand Sanitizer |
| 4E Global, SAPI de CV (Mexico) | 07/08/2020 | BLUMEN Advanced Hand Sanitizer Clear |
| 4E Global, SAPI de CV (Mexico) | 07/08/2020 | BLUMEN Clear Advanced Instant Hand Sanitizer |
| 4E Global, SAPI de CV (Mexico) | 07/08/2020 | BLUMEN Clear Advanced Instant Hand Sanitizer Aloe |
| 4E Global, SAPI de CV (Mexico) | 07/08/2020 | BLUMEN Clear Advanced Instant Hand Sanitizer Lavender |
| 4E Global, SAPI de CV (Mexico) | 07/08/2020 | BLUMEN Aloe Advanced Hand Sanitizer, with 70 Alcohol |
| 4E Global, SAPI de CV (Mexico) | 07/08/2020 | BLUMEN Aloe Advanced Hand Sanitizer, with 70 Alcohol |
| 4E Global, SAPI de CV (Mexico) | 07/08/2020 | Blumen Advanced Hand Sanitizer Lavender, with 70% alcohol |
| 4E Global, SAPI de CV (Mexico) | 07/08/2020 | Blumen Advanced Hand Sanitizer Aloe, with 70% alcohol |
| 4E Global, SAPI de CV (Mexico) | 07/08/2020 | Blumen Antibacterial Fresh Citrus Hand Sanitizer |
| 4E Global, SAPI de CV (Mexico) | 07/08/2020 | Blumen Hand Sanitizer Fresh Citrus |
| 4E Global, SAPI de CV (Mexico) | 07/08/2020 | KLAR and DANVER Instant Hand Sanitizer |
| 4E Global, SAPI de CV (Mexico) | 07/08/2020 | Hello Kitty by Sanrio Hand Sanitizer by 4E Brands North America, LLC |
| 4E Global, SAPI de CV (Mexico) | 07/08/2020 | Assured Instant Hand Sanitizer (Vitamin E and Aloe) |
| 4E Global, SAPI de CV (Mexico) | 07/08/2020 | Assured Instant Hand Sanitizer (Aloe and Moisturizers) |
| 4E Global, SAPI de CV (Mexico) | 07/08/2020 | Assured Instant Hand Sanitizer Vitamin E and Aloe |
| 4E Global, SAPI de CV (Mexico) | 07/08/2020 | Assured Instant Hand Sanitizer Aloe and Moisturizers |
| 4E Global, SAPI de CV (Mexico) | 07/08/2020 | BLUMEN Instant Hand Sanitizer Fragrance Free |
| 4E Global, SAPI de CV (Mexico) | 07/08/2020 | BLUMEN Instant Hand Sanitizer Aloe Vera |
| 4E Global, SAPI de CV (Mexico) | 07/08/2020 | Assured Aloe |
| AAA Cosmetica (Mexico) | 07/06/2020 | bio aaa Advance Hand Sanitizer |
| AAA Cosmetica (Mexico) | 07/06/2020 | LumiSkin Advance Hand Sanitizer 4 oz |
| AAA Cosmetica (Mexico) | 07/06/2020 | LumiSkin Advance Hand Sanitizer 16 oz |
| AAA Cosmetica (Mexico) | 07/06/2020 | QualitaMed Hand Sanitizer |
| Company | Date added to table | Product(s) |
| DDI Multinacional SA de CV (Mexico) | 07/08/2020 | Earths Amenities Instant Unscented Hand Sanitizer with Aloe Vera Advanced |
| DDI Multinacional SA de CV (Mexico) | 07/08/2020 | Hand Sanitizer Agavespa Skincare |
| DDI Multinacional SA de CV (Mexico) | 07/08/2020 | Vidanos Easy Cleaning Rentals Hand Sanitizer Agavespa Skincare |
| Eskbiochem SA de CV (Mexico) | *07/02/2020 | All-Clean Hand Sanitizer |
| Eskbiochem SA de CV (Mexico) | *07/02/2020 | Esk Biochem Hand Sanitizer |
| Eskbiochem SA de CV (Mexico) | *07/02/2020 | Lavar 70 Gel Hand Sanitizer |
| Eskbiochem SA de CV (Mexico) | *07/02/2020 | The Good Gel Antibacterial Gel Hand Sanitizer |
| Eskbiochem SA de CV (Mexico) | *07/02/2020 | CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 80% Alcohol |
| Eskbiochem SA de CV (Mexico) | *07/02/2020 | CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 75% Alcohol |
| Eskbiochem SA de CV (Mexico) | *07/02/2020 | CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 80% Alcohol |
| Eskbiochem SA de CV (Mexico) | *07/02/2020 | Saniderm Advanced Hand Sanitizer |
| Grupo Insoma, S.A.P.I de CV (Mexico) | 07/02/2020 | Hand sanitizer Gel Unscented 70% Alcohol |
| Limpo Quimicos SA de CV (Mexico) | 07/08/2020 | Andy’s Best |
| Limpo Quimicos SA de CV (Mexico) | 07/08/2020 | Andy’s |
| Limpo Quimicos SA de CV (Mexico) | 07/08/2020 | Gelclor |
| Limpo Quimicos SA de CV (Mexico) | 07/08/2020 | NeoNatural |
| Limpo Quimicos SA de CV (Mexico) | 07/08/2020 | Plus Advanced |
| Liqesa Exportacion or Liq-E-S.A. de CV (Mexico) | 07/08/2020 | Optimus Lubricants Instant Hand Sanitizer |
| Liqesa Exportacion or Liq-E-S.A. de CV (Mexico) | 7/21/2020 | Optimus Instant Hand Sanitizer |
| Liqesa Exportacion or Liq-E-S.A. de CV (Mexico) | 7/21/2020 | Optimus Instant Hand Sanitizer |
| Maquiladora Miniara, SA de CV (Mexico) | 07/10/2020 | Shine and Clean Hand Sanitizer |
| Maquiladora Miniara, SA de CV (Mexico) | 07/10/2020 | Selecto Hand Sanitizer |
| MXL Comercial SA de CV (Mexico) | 07/15/2020 | Hand Sanitizer Disinfectant Gel 70% Ethyl Alcohol (labeled with Resource Recovery & Trading LLC) |
| MXL Comercial SA de CV (Mexico) | 07/15/2020 | Hand Sanitizer Disinfectant Gel 70% Ethyl Alcohol Rinse Free Hand Rub (labeled with Resource Recovery & Trading LLC) |
| Mystic International SA de CV (Mexico) | 07/02/2020 | Mystic Shield Protection hand sanitizer |
| Real Clean Distribuciones SA de CV (Mexico) | 07/14/2020 | Born Basic. Anti-Bac Hand Sanitizer |
| Real Clean Distribuciones SA de CV (Mexico) | 07/14/2020 | Anti-Bac Hand Sanitizer |
| Real Clean Distribuciones SA de CV (Mexico) | 07/14/2020 | Scent Theory – Keep It Clean – Pure Clean Anti-bacterial Hand Sanitizer |
| Real Clean Distribuciones SA de CV (Mexico) | 07/14/2020 | Cavalry |
| Real Clean Distribuciones SA de CV (Mexico) | 07/14/2020 | ENLIVEN Hand Sanitizing Gel |
| Real Clean Distribuciones SA de CV (Mexico) | 07/14/2020 | Lux Eoi Hand Sanitizing Gel |
| Real Clean Distribuciones SA de CV (Mexico) | 07/14/2020 | Keep It Clean |
| Real Clean Distribuciones SA de CV (Mexico) | 07/14/2020 | Hand Sanitizer |
| Soluciones Cosmeticas SA de CV (Mexico) | 07/02/2020 | Bersih Hand Sanitizer Gel Fragrance Free |
| Soluciones Cosmeticas SA de CV (Mexico) | 07/02/2020 | Antiseptic Alcohol 70% Topical Solution hand sanitizer |
| Soluciones Cosmeticas SA de CV (Mexico) | 07/10/2020 | Hand sanitizer (labeled with Wet Look Janitorial and Gardening Corp.) |
| Tropicosmeticos SA de CV (Mexico) | 07/02/2020 | Britz Hand Sanitizer Ethyl Alcohol 70% |
| Yara Elena De La Garza Perez Nieto (Mexico) | 07/10/2020 | DAESI hand sanitizer |
