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posted by martyb on Tuesday June 23 2020, @11:53PM   Printer-friendly
from the not-just-in-california dept.

https://arstechnica.com/science/2020/06/toxic-methanol-that-causes-blindness-found-in-hand-sanitizers-fda-warns

The US Food and Drug Administration on Monday advised consumers to avoid nine types of hand sanitizers that may contain methanol, a toxic alcohol that can cause blindness if swallowed and systemic effects if absorbed through the skin.

All nine hand sanitizers are made by Eskbiochem SA de CV in Mexico. The agency said in its advisory that it discovered methanol while testing two of the company's products. One, called Lavar Gel, was 81-percent methanol—and no ethanol, a safe alcohol meant to be used in hand sanitizers. Another, CleanCare No Germ, was 2-percent methanol.

From the FDA advisory, the Eskbiochem SA de CV products are:

  • 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)

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  • (Score: 2) by Freeman on Wednesday June 24 2020, @02:55PM (7 children)

    by Freeman (732) on Wednesday June 24 2020, @02:55PM (#1011981) Journal

    The problem is that at least one was 81% methanol, as in almost totally methanol, which is very bad.

    --
    Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"
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  • (Score: 3, Insightful) by The Mighty Buzzard on Wednesday June 24 2020, @03:00PM (6 children)

    by The Mighty Buzzard (18) Subscriber Badge <themightybuzzard@proton.me> on Wednesday June 24 2020, @03:00PM (#1011985) Homepage Journal

    Methanol doesn't absorb into your skin any quicker than ethanol does, so here's an experiment to discover for yourself exactly how dangerous using methanol on your hands is:

    1. Pour yourself a bowl of everclear or other high-percentage ethanol source.
    2. Put your hand in it and wait until you're drunk.
    3. When you get tired of waiting for anything at all to happen except the outer layer of your skin getting dehydrated, admit that I'm right about it being idiotic fearmongering.
    --
    My rights don't end where your fear begins.
    • (Score: 3, Insightful) by Freeman on Wednesday June 24 2020, @03:18PM (1 child)

      by Freeman (732) on Wednesday June 24 2020, @03:18PM (#1011998) Journal

      Multiple people have said it would take quite a bit of it to cause the same bad effects that swallowing it would. Still, it's best not to have an item mislabeled, at the least. Accidentally ingesting x amount of ethanol isn't the same as accidentally ingesting the same amount of methanol. There's also the people that purposely drink it, which have their own kinds of problems, but still don't deserve to be blind due to improper manufacture.

      --
      Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"
    • (Score: 2) by RS3 on Thursday June 25 2020, @02:14PM (3 children)

      by RS3 (6367) on Thursday June 25 2020, @02:14PM (#1012406)

      It's a general warning meant to help the people, however few they may be, who might have sensitivity to methanol, more permeable skin, and / or comorbidities like existing liver problems or other diseases / conditions / medications that strain the liver.

      • (Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Thursday June 25 2020, @09:25PM (2 children)

        "Toxic Methanol that Causes Blindness" is not meant to inform, it's meant to frighten.

        --
        My rights don't end where your fear begins.
        • (Score: 2) by RS3 on Friday June 26 2020, @03:12AM (1 child)

          by RS3 (6367) on Friday June 26 2020, @03:12AM (#1012769)

          Yes, absolutely agree. Just trying to figure out why some people like fearmongering. Probably something to do with ego and power + control. Or at the very least fearmongers like to feel intellectually superior. But moms do it, and rightfully.