Health Canada announces the recall of 18 other hand sanitizers

TORONTO – Health Canada has announced the recall of more hand sanitizers, adding 18 more products to its list due to issues such as containing ingredients not approved by Health Canada or not being authorized for sale in Canada.

Since the start of the pandemic, sales and production of hand sanitizer have increased, and Health Canada has already issued recalls for nearly 100 products.

In that update, released by Health Canada on Tuesday, the agency said hand sanitizers are not allowed to contain “unacceptable grades of ethanol, undeclared impurities at high levels or unauthorized denaturants. have not been tested for their safety or effectiveness. “

The denaturant helps prevent the consumption of ethanol for alcohol content.

Two denaturants that are not permitted in hand sanitizers sold in Canada are ethyl acetate and methanol. Ethyl acetate can contribute to dry skin and irritation with frequent use, and methanol can cause more severe “dermatitis, eye irritation, upper respiratory irritation and headache” .

Some of the disinfectants included in this recall that contained ethyl acetate are Aerochem Liquid Hand Cleaner 70% Alcohol, JP Wiser’s Distillery, KeraSpa, Premium Hand Gel Sanitizer and Umbrell (60ml size).

The company recalling the JP Wiser Distillery is Hiram Walk & Sons Distillery, an Ontario distillery, which began producing hand sanitizer last year to help during the pandemic.

This isn’t the first distillery that produced a hand sanitizer to be on the recall list – two BC distilleries have also had products recalled in previous recalls released by Health Canada.

Another reason hand sanitizers can end up on the recall list is if they contain undeclared impurities in high levels, like acetaldehyde and benzene. If found at high levels, both can increase the risk of cancer if applied frequently over a long period of time, and benzene can cause “drowsiness, dizziness, rapid or irregular heartbeat. and headaches ”.

Hand sanitizers, including acetaldehyde at high levels in this recall, are Gigi’s Goodbye Germs Hand Sanitizer, Natural Concepts Hand Sanitizer, and Advanced Treatment Solutions – 80 Ethanol Sanitizer %.

Due to the increased demand for hand sanitizers, Health Canada decided to allow hand sanitizers to use technical grade ethanol, which was previously not intended for hand sanitizer. . But those who use it should clearly label the product as containing it, purchase ethanol from a selected list of authorized Health Canada sellers, and include warnings for customers, including not to use it on skin. scuffed. Failure to do so may also result in a recall.

Some of the new products on the recall list are also mislabelled or not authorized for sale in Canada.

Here is the complete list of hand sanitizers affected by this recall:

• Aerochem 70% Alcohol Liquid Hand Cleaner

• Bio-Odor

• Defense

• Gigi’s Goodbye Germs Hand Sanitizer

• JP Wiser Distillery

• KeraSpa

• Natural Concepts Sanitizing Gel

• Peak Processing Solutions – 80% Ethanol Disinfectant

• Pre-Quat Disinfectant Preference

• Premium hand sanitizer gel

• Premium hand sanitizer

• Puricia

• Safe-Guard Product Canada Hand Sanitizer

• Salon Solution waterless hand basin

• SunnaPure Hand Sanitizer Spray

• T-1000

• TerraPure Hand Sanitizer

• Umbrella (60 ml format)

A complete list of the lot numbers for each product affected by the recall is provided on the Health Canada website, along with full details on the reason for the recall of each product.

Health Canada is advising consumers to stop using these products and has ordered companies to stop producing them.

If you have used a product listed here and have any health concerns, Health Canada asks that you direct your questions to your health care provider.

The list of previously recalled hand sanitizers can be found here, and a list of hand sanitizers authorized by Health Canada can be found here.