Why Are So Many Hand Sanitizer Products Getting Recalled?

In the wake of COVID-19’s spread around the world, hand sanitizer sales have increased exponentially. However, not every hand sanitizer product is safe.

Below, our Sacramento personal injury attorneys discuss why the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recalled over 100 different hand sanitizer products in recent months.

Why the FDA is Recalling Hand Sanitizers

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the FDA has been sampling and testing different hand sanitizer products regularly. The agency has announced that a growing number of these products are either not cleaning your hands adequately or contain a dangerous chemical—methanol—that can be toxic when applied to hands and ingested.

Another toxic chemical, 1-propanol, has been found in certain products that list ethanol or isopropyl alcohol as a top ingredient. According to the FDA, 1-propanol can suppress a person’s immune system over time. Additionally, this chemical has been found to be four times more potent than alcohol on the central nervous system and, as such, can impair your consciousness and cause confusion and a slowed pulse.

In terms of recalled hand sanitizers’ ineffectiveness, the FDA states that some hand sanitizer products do not contain enough alcohol to kill germs on your hands. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends hand sanitizers contain at least 60% alcohol. However, some recalled hand sanitizer products were including methanol in that amount—and this chemical is not comparable to other agents used in effective hand sanitizers.

The full list of FDA-recalled hand sanitizer products can be found here.