FDA Takes Action to Place All Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizers from Mexico on Import Alert

FDA Takes Action to Place All Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizers from Mexico on Import Alert to Help Prevent Entry of Violative and Potentially Dangerous Products into U.S., Protect U.S. Consumers

Please see the FDA email chain below regarding hand sanitizers imported from Mexico and the potential hazards. Be sure to check your site’s inventory of hand sanitizer.

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Dear FDA Partner:

As part of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s continuing efforts to protect consumers from potentially dangerous or subpotent hand sanitizers, the agency has placed all alcohol-based hand sanitizers from Mexico on a countrywide import alert to help stop products that appear to be in violation from entering the U.S. until the agency is able to review the products’ safety. Over the course of the ongoing pandemic, the agency has seen a sharp increase in hand sanitizer products from Mexico that were labeled to contain ethanol (also known as ethyl alcohol) but tested positive for methanol contamination. Methanol, or wood alcohol, is a substance that can be toxic when absorbed through the skin and life-threatening when ingested. Methanol is not an acceptable ingredient in hand sanitizer or other drugs.

https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/coronavirus-covid-19-update-fda-takes-action-place-all-alcohol-based-hand-sanitizers-mexico-import

For members of the press, if you have additional questions, please contact FDA’s Office of Media Affairs at: fdaoma@fda.hhs.gov or Jeremy Kahn (301) 796-8671

For other partners and consumers that have additional questions, you can contact us at: ORAInfo@fda.hhs.gov or 888-INFO-FDA