Right now, nearly everyone here in Ohio and elsewhere is probably using hand sanitizer more often than ever. Of course, due to demand, it has been in short supply, so people are using brands they have not seen on the shelves just to make sure they have some available in order to comply with rules set forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration, and other federal and state agencies. The problem is that the FDA recently discovered that one of the previously unknown brands could make users seriously ill.
Even though the agency requested that Eskbiochem SA de CV stop manufacturing and recall its products, the company has so far refused to do so. For this reason, the FDA has put out a notice for everyone to immediately stop using the company’s products. The problem is that they contain methanol, which is a wood alcohol not approved for use by humans. Ordinarily, hand sanitizer contains ethanol, which is safer for humans.
On the other hand, methanol is toxic to humans. When it absorbs into the skin or is ingested, it causes vomiting, nausea, blurred vision and headaches. Prolonged or untreated exposure can lead to seizures, permanent blindness, permanent nervous system damage or death. Anyone who purchased this company’s products and used them may want to seek medical attention right away and throw away any unused product.
So far, the FDA has not forced the Mexico-based company to recall its products, but that could be forthcoming. Sadly, it may not happen in enough time to prevent serious illness or death in some people. Ohio residents who become ill and do not know why may want to see whether it is because the hand sanitizer they used contained methanol instead of ethanol.
