New Warning From FDA To Avoid Hand Sanitizer Containing Methanol

A hand sanitizer is seen as Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews speaks to the media during a daily briefing on July 25, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia.
Photo credit Darrian Traynor / Getty

There's a new warning from the government to avoid nearly 90 brands of hand sanitizer that may contain a toxic form of alcohol. It's just the latest health advisory for something many of us use every day now, if not every hour.

The FDA says some hand sanitizers—many made in Mexico—contain methanol, a toxic form of alcohol that can cause harm when absorbed through the skin. CBS News Medical Contributor Dr. David Agus said when COVID-19 came along, trusted brands went out the window for products in high demand.

"And what you get is a lot of foreign-made hand sanitizers that do not have quality ingredients," he said.

The warning comes after an earlier advisory that hand sanitizers with pump tops can spark fires in hot cars.  

Former firefighter Sherry Wilson said the pumps can vent alcohol when they get overheated, and that sealed caps are much safer.

"If it’s venting into a small space like a car, you can get some vapor release," she explained.

For a link to the FDA's list of toxic sanitizers, check out KCBS Radio reporter Matt Bigler’s Twitter feed at @mattbigler740.

Do you know what's in your hand sanitizer? The FDA has issued a warning about nearly 90 brands of sanitizer containing methanol which can be toxic when absorbed through the skin. Here's the FDA's list:https://t.co/i2mepWrfkr For more listen to @KCBSRadio https://t.co/f8dnzQ9w6n

— Matt Bigler (@mattbigler740) July 28, 2020