Some sanitizers in Mexico are contaminated 1:09
(CNN) -
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has placed all alcohol-based hand sanitizers from Mexico under a national "import alert" until it can review the safety of the products, the agency said.
Alcohol-based hand sanitizers from Mexico will be subject to increased scrutiny, and FDA staff may stop shipments, according to a press release.
"Over the course of the ongoing pandemic, the agency has seen a sharp increase in hand sanitizer products from Mexico that were labeled as containing ethanol (also known as ethyl alcohol) but tested positive for methanol contamination." the FDA said.
Methanol or wood alcohol can be toxic when absorbed through the skin.
Also, it can be life threatening if ingested.
It is not an acceptable ingredient in hand sanitizers in the United States, according to the FDA.
Sample Analysis Reveals Disinfectants From Mexico Did Not Meet FDA Requirements
"Consumer use of hand sanitizers has increased significantly during the coronavirus pandemic, especially when soap and water are not accessible, and the availability of poor-quality products with dangerous and unacceptable ingredients will not be tolerated." Judy McMeekin, FDA's associate commissioner for regulatory affairs, said in the statement Tuesday.
“Today's actions are necessary to protect the safe supply of alcohol-based hand sanitizers.
We will continue to work with stakeholders to ensure the availability of safe products and communicate vital information with the health and safety of American consumers in mind, "he added.
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From April to December 2020, the FDA found that 84% of the samples tested did not comply with FDA regulations.
In addition, more than half of the samples were found to contain toxic ingredients at dangerous levels, according to the statement.
This included methanol and / or 1-propanol.
FDA Mexico
