The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued an import warning for disinfectant products to Mexico’s hands amid serious safety concerns. The warning is aimed at preventing potentially dangerous products from crossing US borders before the FDA can review its safety.
The agency cited concerns about methanol contamination, which is toxic when the chemical is absorbed through the skin and potentially fatal when ingested.
“Under the import alert, Mexico’s alcohol-based hand sanitizers offered for import are subject to intensified scrutiny by the FDA, and the FDA team can stop the shipment,” says a statement published on Tuesday. “As part of their input analysis, the FDA team will consider any specific evidence offered by importers or manufacturers that hand sanitizers were manufactured in accordance with current US good manufacturing practice requirements. This marks the first time that the FDA issued an import alert across the country for any category of medicine. “
Methanol-contaminated hand sanitizer can be toxic when absorbed through the skin and dangerous to life when ingested, the FDA warned. (iStock)
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The import warning comes amid an increase in the use of hand sanitizer during the pandemic, said Judy McMeekin, FDA’s Associate Commissioner for Regulatory Affairs. She added that action is needed to protect a safe supply of alcohol-based hand sanitizers.
Mexico’s agency reviews of products last year found that the vast majority (84%) did not comply with regulations. More than 50% of the samples contained toxic ingredients, such as methanol and 1-propanol, at harmful levels.
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The FDA has warned that hand sanitizers contaminated with methanol can cause blindness, effects on the heart and central nervous system, hospitalizations and death. People who ingest the products are at greater risk, although application of the products on their hands can result in methanol poisoning.
The FDA maintains a list of specific hand sanitizers to avoid, which has increased to more than 200 products. Recent Mexico-derived hand sanitizers signaled by the FDA include products from the “4E Global SAPI de CV”, among other manufacturers.
“Consumers who have been exposed to methanol-contaminated hand sanitizers and are experiencing symptoms should contact their local poison control center and seek immediate medical treatment for the potential reversal of the toxic effects of methanol poisoning,” he says. the statement.