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Hand sanitizer may contain ethanol, says FDA

On Behalf of | Jan 7, 2021 | Injuries

Many American-based businesses sell goods imported from overseas. Often, there is nothing wrong with this practice and it opens up a literal world of purchasing opportunities for customers and businesses alike. However, it can add an extra layer of difficulty for those entities responsible for ensuring a product’s safety. The Food and Drug Administration recently discovered that a hand sanitizer sold in the U.S. and imported from overseas may contain a dangerous chemical. Families in Oklahoma may be interested in this issue as it could pertain to potential product liability claims.

The Shane Erickson company has issued a voluntary recall for hand sanitizer after it was discovered that it may contain methanol. Methanol is commonly known as wood alcohol and can cause numerous adverse reactions such as vomiting, permanent blindness, death. Shane Erickson is particularly concerned for anyone who may accidentally consume the sanitizer, but it says that even people who use the product on their hands could be affected.

There haven’t been any formal complaints or reports of the hand sanitizer causing any harm, but the FDA and Shane Erickson prefer to err on the side of caution. The hand sanitizer was manufactured in China, though it is not clear how this potential contamination was found. The Shane Erickson company, along with the FDA, is working to get the word out about the risk to consumers and have advised people as well as retailers to return the sanitizer to the point of purchase.

Though this particular product recall hasn’t yet made anyone sick, these types of incidents can still happen to innocent consumers. Families in Oklahoma who have been negatively impacted by a dangerous product that shouldn’t have been on the market may want to file a product liability claim. With the aid of a personal injury attorney, they can hold a negligent company responsible for the harm caused, that could last the rest of their lives.