THESE hand sanitizers could kill you as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has expanded the list of potentially toxic cleansers.
The FDA issued warnings about 59 different hand sanitizers, many of which are said to contain methanol, which can be dangerous when absorbed through the skin or ingested.
All of the sanitizers appear to have been produced in Mexico.
Last month, the FDA warned Americans not to use nine "toxic" hand sanitizers made by Mexico-based Eskbiochem SA de CV with each containing varying amounts of methanol, some as high as 90 percent.
Tests found that the CleanCare No Germ line contained 28 percent methanol, while Lavar Gel contained a whopping 81 percent of the toxin, the FDA said.
The agency now warns against use of hand sanitizers made by firms including AAA Cosmetica, 4E Global and DDI Multinacional.
Other brands include Tropicosmeticos, Limpo QUimocos and Maquiladora Miniara.
AAA Cosmetica have since announced that they are "voluntary recalling" all lots of the hand sanitizer which reportedly contains methanol.
The FDA has warned that it's "seen a sharp increase" in hand sanitizer products that contain ethanol which have been contaminated with methanol.
FDA warns about toxic hand sanitizers
The FDA have listed 59 products, made by the following:
- 19 of 4E Global's Blumen hand sanitizers
- Five of Global's Assured hand sanitizers
- 4E's Global Klar and Danver, Modesta, The Honeykeeper and Hello Kitty by Sanario hand sanitizers
- Four of AAA Cosmetica hand sanitizers
- Three of DDI Multinacional hand sanitizers
- Eight of Eskbiochem's hand sanitizers
- Five of Limpo Quimicos' hand sanitizers
- Liqesa Exportacion Optimus Lubricants Instant hand sanitizer
- Two of Maquiladora Miniara's hand sanitizers
- Mystic International's Mystic Shield Protection hand sanitizer
- Three of Soluciones Cosmeticas' hand sanitizers
- Tropicosmeticos' Britz Hand Sanitizer Ethyl Alcohol 70 percent
- Yara Elena de la Garza Perez Nieto Daesi hand sanitizer
'AN UNACCEPTABLE INGREDIENT'
Methanol can be toxic when absorbed through the skin and can be life-threatening when ingested.
Exposure to methanol-based hand sanitizer can cause nausea, vomiting, permanent blindness, seizures, coma, permanent damage to the nervous system or even death, the FDA confirmed.
"Methanol is not an acceptable ingredient for hand sanitizers and must not be used due to its toxic effects," the agency stated.
Ethanol is sugary and is produced from crops such as corn and barley while methanol is made from wood.
Young children who accidentally ingest these products as well as those who drink them as a substitute for alcohol are most at risk at of methanol poisoning, according to the FDA.
In 2013, more than 1,700 methanol poisoning cases occurred in the US, report MailOnline.
Two Tennessee teens died of methanol poisoning after mixing Mountain Dew with methanol-based racing fuel in January 2016.
"This was an unfortunate incident," Dr Donna Seger, executive director of the Tennessee Poison Center told CNN.
The boys were reportedly in a group that purposely mixed the soft drink Mountain Dew with methanol, instead of ethanol.
The FDA previously recommended consumers to stop using the hazardous products and immediately dispose of them in appropriate waste containers, without flushing them down the drain, reported The Hill.
The fresh warnings come after the FDA decided to relax some regulations on hand sanitizer in March when shelves started to become empty of the disinfectant.
Consumers are reminded to wash their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds after going to the bathroom; before eating; after coughing; sneezing or blowing someone else's nose.
If soap and water are unavailable, an alcohol-based sanitizer is recommended which contains at least 60 percent ethanol, according to guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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