MINISTRY OF HEALTH ISSUES WARNING ON HAND SANITIZERS MANUFACTURED BY ESKBIOCHEM

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The Ministry of Health, Agriculture, Sports and Human Services (MoHASHS), in response to an US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory, is advising all local healthcare facilities, other local suppliers and the general public to discontinue the sale and/or use of any hand sanitizers manufactured by Eskbiochem SA de CV in Mexico. The advisory results from information gathered that there is a potential presence of methanol (wood alcohol) – a substance that can be toxic when absorbed through the skin or ingested – in these hand sanitizers.

The hand sanitizers in question have been identified below:

  • All-Clean Hand Sanitizer (NDC: 74589-002-01)
  • Esk Biochem Hand Sanitizer (NDC: 74589-007-01)
  • CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 75% Alcohol (NDC: 74589-008-04)
  • Lavar 70 Gel Hand Sanitizer (NDC: 74589-006-01)
  • The Good Gel Antibacterial Gel Hand Sanitizer (NDC: 74589-010-10)
  • CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 80% Alcohol (NDC: 74589-005-03)
  • CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 75% Alcohol (NDC: 74589-009-01)
  • CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 80% Alcohol (NDC: 74589-003-01)
  • Saniderm Advanced Hand Sanitizer (NDC: 74589-001-01)

Methanol is not an acceptable ingredient for hand sanitizers and should not be used due to its toxic effects. Therefore, consumers who have been exposed to hand sanitizers containing methanol should seek immediate treatment. Immediate treatment is vital to reverse potential toxic effects of methanol poisoning. Symptoms associated with methanol exposure/poisoning include nausea, vomiting, headache, blurred vision, permanent blindness, seizures, coma, permanent damage to the nervous system or death.

The MoHASHS therefore implores all local healthcare facilities and other local suppliers to:

  1. Stop supplying the brands listed above immediately.
  2. Notify your overseas suppliers.
  3. Quarantine all remaining stock(s) of the identified brands for disposal by the Environmental Health Department.

Additionally, the MoHASHS wishes to implore members of the public not to flush or pour these products down the drain and recommends that consumers dispose of them immediately in separately labelled containers. Persons may contact the Environmental Health Department at 338-2142 for more information on how best to dispose of these hand sanitizers.

The MoHASHS further reminds consumers to wash their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially:

  • after going to the bathroom
  • before eating
  • after coughing, sneezing, or blowing one’s nose.

If soap and water are not readily available, the MoHASHS recommends that consumers use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% ethanol or 70 % isopropyl alcohol.

The MoHASHS’ top priority is to ensure public health safety and will therefore continue to monitor this situation as investigations continue.

For further information, please contact the MoHASHS at 338-3072.