Health Canada has issued a recall for various brands of hand sanitizer found to contain industrial-grade ethanol not authorized for use in the Canadian market.
This form of ethanol is said to have impurities not found in those types of ethanol approved for use in hand sanitizer, and also, has not been reviewed for its safety or efficiency, as stated in the press release.
One contaminant identified through the investigation is Ethyl acetate, which Health Canada said frequent exposure to in the form of hand sanitizer can cause dry skin, resulting in irritation and cracking.
The other impurity is Methanol, which can cause dermatitis, eye irritation, upper respiratory irritation, and headaches.
Health Canada encourages all consumers to check whether the following products are in their homes. Should a product be found, it should be returned where it was purchased or disposed of according to municipal and regional regulations.
Anyone who may have used these products and has a health concern is advised to contact their family doctor or healthcare professional.
The only hand sanitizers approved for use in Canada will display either a Natural Product Number (NPN) or Drug Identification Number (DIN) on the product label. A full list of these products can be found here.
Alternatively, Health Canada said individuals can limit the spread of COVID-19 by washing their hands with soap and water regularly and for a minimum of 20 seconds at a time.
Find a full updated list of products associated with this recall here.
