Buying Hand Sanitizer? Make Sure It Isn’t Recalled by the FDA.

When the COVID-19 pandemic first became widespread in the U.S., there was an immediate shortage of essential items—face masks, toilet paper, and hand sanitizer became particularly hard to find in supermarkets and pharmacies. In recent months, those items are becoming more widely available, and face masks and hand sanitizer are still essential items for protecting yourself and your loved ones from infection.

Unfortunately, the huge demand for hand sanitizer has led to some unscrupulous companies manufacturing hand sanitizer with an ingredient that can put users’ health and lives at risk. Hand sanitizer is supposed to be made with ethyl alcohol, but some companies are manufacturing hand sanitizer with methanol as an active ingredient.

Methanol is a type of wood alcohol and it is poisonous to humans. It can cause serious health problems when it’s absorbed into the skin and can even be fatal if it’s ingested. As of August 2020, more than 100 hand sanitizers sold in the U.S. have been recalled by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) due to them containing methanol—which is typically not listed on their list of ingredients.

New hand sanitizers containing methanol are being recalled by the FDA every week and are included on a list on their website. The FDA recommends that in addition to avoiding or throwing out affected hand sanitizers, consumers should also avoid purchasing all hand sanitizers manufactured by companies on its list, as they may be producing more bottles that contain methanol.

At Cofman Townsley, we believe that companies that manufacture dangerous products should be held accountable when they harm others, especially during times of crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Contact our St. Louis defective product lawyers today to find out how we can help your family if you were harmed by a dangerous product.