Hand Sanitizers That Look Like Water Bottles Recalled For Risk Of Ingestion

Updated: Nov. 21, 2021, 7:45 p.m. | Published: Nov. 21, 2021, 7:45 p.m.

Hand sanitizer recall - Hand sanitizers sold by American Screening LLC are being recalled because they resemble water bottles and pose a risk of ingestion, according to the FDA. (Courtesy/FDA)

By Annalise Knudson | aknudson@siadvance.com

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Don’t drink the hand sanitizer!

American Screening LLC is recalling 153,336 units of hand sanitizer, containing 70% ethyl alcohol gel, packaged in containers that resemble water bottles and pose a risk of ingestion, according to a recall notice from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The product is intended to be applied topically to help reduce bacteria on the skin that could cause diseases when soap and water are not available and are packaged in an eight-ounce bottle.

The affected hand sanitizer lots include the expiration dates May 21, 2022, and May 24, 2022, for black-capped bottles, and no lot numbers or expiration dates for clear capped bottles. The product can be identified by its shape — a small water bottle — with a black flip top cap or clear cap with blue pouring spout with the weight of measure of eight ounces and UPC code 840050515792.

The sanitizers were sold to customers and distributors nationwide via americanscreeningcorp.com and/or in-house sales.

Ingesting hand sanitizer, which is intended for topical use, could potentially result in alcohol toxicity, according to the FDA. Symptoms of alcohol toxicity can range from lack of coordination, slowed or slurred speech, drowsiness, to coma, which can be fatal.

Ingesting alcohol can affect the brain and cause impaired driving or operating heavy machinery. It can also interact with numerous drugs, which may result in serious adverse effects. Ingesting alcohol by people with alcohol addiction may interfere with maintaining abstinence. Additionally, people with alcohol addiction may seek large amounts of ethanol-based hand sanitizers as a substitute, the FDA stated.

To date, American Screening LLC hasn’t received any reports of adverse events related to this recall.

Customers and distributors who have this hand sanitizer, which is being recalled, should stop distribution and use and return to the place of purchase, or discard.

Consumers with questions regarding this recall can contact Wendy Laskowski by emailing wlaskowski@americanscreeningcorp.com or call 318-606-6037. Consumers should contact their physician or healthcare provider if they have experienced any problems that may be related to ingesting the hand sanitizer packaged in eight-ounce water bottles.

RECENT HAND SANITIZER RECALLS

In June, Prairie Wolf Spirits Inc. recalled all lots of its Prairie Wolf Distillery hand sanitizer packaged in containers that resemble water bottles because it poses a risk of ingestion, the FDA announced. The hand sanitizers were packaged in 16.9-ounce and 20-ounce containers that look like water bottles. This recall doesn’t affect any other hand sanitizer products from Prairie Wolf Distillery.

In May, Sanit Technologies LLC announced it would expand a recall of its Durisan Non Alcohol Antimicrobial Hand Sanitizer products that became contaminated with a common municipal water supply-borne bacteria, Burkholderia contaminans.

Using this hand sanitizer contaminated with these bacteria, generally considered to be low virulence (slow-growing), can range from no reaction to possible infections in a person with a hand wound or scrapes because the bacteria could enter the bloodstream — especially in people with compromised immune systems.

Dibar Nutricional LLC is recalling all Dibar Labs Hand Sanitizers packages in eight-ounce and 16-ounce bottles, its ProtectoRx Hand Sanitizer packages in two-ounce and 16-ounce bottles, and its Advance Hand Sanitizer packages in 16-ounce bottles, to the consumer level, according to an FDA notice in May.

The products are being recalled after testing revealed the presence of methanol, a toxic chemical.

Substantial methanol exposure can result in nausea, vomiting, headache, blurred vision, permanent blindness, seizures, coma, permanent damage to the nervous system, or death. While people using these products on their hands are at risk, young children who accidentally ingest the products and adolescents and adults who drink the products as an alcohol (ethanol) substitute are most at risk for methanol poisoning.

The FDA also announced last month a recall by Global Sanitizers, which recalled 50,000 units of Medically Minded hand sanitizers with lot numbers E212020 and E082020, and best buy dates of May 21, 2022, because they may contain methanol.

To date, Global Sanitizers has not received any reports of adverse events related to this recall, the FDA stated. Medically Minded hand sanitizer is packaged in 8.5-ounce/250-ml clear bottles with caps with the following UPC: 7675300359.