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FDA to place all alcohol-based hand sanitizers from Mexico on import alert

3 years 2 months 15 hours ago Tuesday, January 26 2021 Jan 26, 2021 January 26, 2021 6:33 PM January 26, 2021 in News - Local
By: KRGV staff
Photo credit: MGN Online/ Pexels

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday placed all alcohol-based hand sanitizers from Mexico on an import alert until the federal agency is able to review the product's safety. 

The agency announced it has seen a sharp increase in hand sanitizer products from Mexico that may contain ethanol, 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.

Under the import alert, alcohol-based hand sanitizers from Mexico will be subject to heightened scrutiny, and the FDA may detain the shipment, according to a news release

The FDA says this is the first time it has issued a countrywide import alert for any category of drug product. 

Read the federal agency's entire news release here

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