Recall of certain hand sanitizers that may pose health risks
Last updated:
-
Product:
Certain hand sanitizers made with industrial-grade ethanol, a grade of ethanol not authorized for use in hand sanitizers. -
Issue:
Health Canada is advising Canadians that certain hand sanitizers are being recalled from the market because they contain industrial-grade ethanol that has not been authorized for use in hand sanitizers in Canada. -
What to do:
Stop using these products. Consult your healthcare professional if you have used any of these products and have health concerns. Report any health product adverse events or complaints to Health Canada. See the additional information on buying health products safely in the links below.
Please note that the products in the following table are listed alphabetically, rather than by the date they were added.
| Product | Contaminant | Recalling Company | NPN or DIN | Lot number(s) | Expiry Date | Date Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aktif Antiseptique instantané pour les mains | Ethyl acetate | Laboratoire Hygienex Inc. | 80098088 | May 16, 2022 | June 10, 2020 | |
| Dash Vapes Hand Sanitizer | Ethyl acetate | DashVapes Inc. | Unlicensed (no NPN or DIN on label) | April 10, 2021 | June 11, 2020 | |
| Eltraderm Hand Sanitizer – 70 % Ethyl Alcohol | Ethyl acetate | Eltraderm Limited | 80098540 | April 2022 | June 6, 2020 | |
| Gel 700 Hand Sanitizer | Ethyl acetate | Nature’s Own Cosmetic Company Inc. | 80100166 |
118 mL format
236 mL format
3785 mL format |
May 2022 | June 9, 2020 |
| Gel 700 Hand Sanitizer | Methanol; ethyl acetate | Nature’s Own Cosmetics Company | 80100166 |
|
April 2022 | June 17, 2020 |
| May 2022 | ||||||
| Hand Sanitizer | Ethyl acetate | Contract Packaging Distributions Inc. | 80098453 |
|
April 2022 | June 6, 2020 |
|
Hand Sanitizer Désinfectant pour les mains |
Ethyl acetate | Walker Emulsions Ltd. | 80100040 | Not printed on the label | June 6, 2020 | |
| Isogel | Ethyl acetate | Lalema Inc. | 80098996 | May 13, 2021 | June 11, 2020 | |
| Protectenol Hand Sanitizer Liquid | Ethyl acetate | Applied Lubrication Technology | 80098373 |
|
Not printed on the label | June 10, 2020 |
| Sanilabs Hand Sanitizer 70% Ethanol | Ethyl acetate | Sanilabs Inc. | 80098769 | April 20, 2022 | June 6, 2020 | |
| April 28, 2022 | ||||||
| Smart Care | Ethyl acetate | R&D Technical Solutions Ltd. | 80099110 | May 2022 | June 10, 2020 | |
| Tidol Hand Sanitizer 70% | Ethyl acetate | Tidol Corporation | 80099632 | April 2022 | June 10, 2020 | |
| Walker Emulsions Hand Sanitizer | Ethyl acetate | Walker Emulsions Ltd. | 80098678 | Not printed on the label | June 6, 2020 | |
| X-Pure Vert-2-Go Gel | Ethyl acetate | Wood Wyant Inc. | 80013648 |
|
April 2022 | June 10, 2020 |
Note that a previous version of this advisory was posted on June 6, 2020. This revised version contains updated information about the different impurities found in certain hand sanitizers and their associated risks.
Background
Ethyl acetate: Frequent use of hand sanitizer containing ethyl acetate may cause dry skin, leading to irritation or cracking.
Methanol: Frequent use of hand sanitizer containing methanol may cause dermatitis, eye irritation, upper respiratory system irritation, and headaches.
Issue
Health Canada is advising Canadians that certain hand sanitizers are being recalled from the market because they contain industrial-grade ethanol that has not been authorized for use in hand sanitizers in Canada.
Industrial-grade ethanol contains impurities that are not found in the types of ethanol approved for use in hand sanitizers, such as pharmaceutical-grade, food-grade and specific sources of technical-grade ethanol.
Since industrial-grade ethanol has not been approved for use in hand sanitizers in Canada, the Department has not reviewed it for safety or efficacy. Multiple types of unauthorized industrial-grade ethanol have been found in hand sanitizer products. Possible adverse reactions may include dermatitis, such as skin irritation and cracking; eye irritation; upper respiratory system irritation; and headaches.
Health Canada will update this list if it becomes aware of other affected products, so that Canadians can easily identify ones they may have purchased and take appropriate action. Canadians are encouraged to consult the list regularly for updates.
What you should do
- Stop using the products listed below. Please follow municipal or regional guidelines on how to dispose of chemicals and other hazardous waste. You may also return the product to your local pharmacy for proper disposal.
- Consult your healthcare professional if you have used these products and have health concerns.
- To help limit the spread of COVID-19, wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use alcohol-based hand sanitizers if soap and water are not available.
- Use hand sanitizers that have been authorized for sale in Canada. Hand sanitizers that have been authorized will display either a Natural Product Number (NPN) or Drug Identification Number (DIN) on the product label. These products can be found on the list of hand sanitizers that meet Health Canada’s requirements.
- Report any health product adverse events or complaints to Health Canada.
Health Canada
(613) 957-2983
hc.media.sc@canada.ca
Public enquiries
(613) 957-2991
1-866 225-0709
hcinfo.infosc@canada.ca
What Health Canada is doing
- Health Canada has directed companies to stop the sale of these products and is monitoring the effectiveness of the recalls.
- If Health Canada identifies additional products or manufacturers using ethanol that does not meet Health Canada requirements, the Department will take appropriate action and inform Canadians, including updating this list.
