Stop Use Of Methanol Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitisers, NAFDAC Warns NIgerians

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has raised the alarm over the presence of hand sanitizers containing methanol in Nigeria.

It warned that such products pose threat to consumers health when absorbed through the skin or ingested.

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The Agency in a public alert with No: 20/2021 titled: ‘Recall of Hand Sanitisers by DiBAR Nutricional due to the presence of Methanol(Wood alcohol)’ said that products such as Nutricional S, de R, L De C.V contain methanol.

The Director-General of NAFDAC, Mojisola Adeyeye, stated that it had received information from the US Food and Drug Agency about the presence of methanol in hand sanitizers.

It added that Nutricional S,de R, L De C.V (Dibar) is recalling all Dibar Labs hand sanitizers, ProtectoRX hand sanitizers and Advance hand sanitizers due to the presence of methanol.

According to the Agency, “Substantial methanol exposure can result in nausea, vomiting, headache, blurred vision, permanent blindness, seizures, coma, permanent damage to the nervous system, or death.

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“All persons using these products on their hands are at risk for methanol poisoning, young children who accidentally ingest these products and adolescents and adults who drink these products as alcohol (ethanol) substitute, are most at risk.

“Methanol is not an acceptable ingredient for hand sanitizers and must not be used due to its toxicity.”

The Agency urged healthcare providers and members of the public in possession of methanol alcohol-based hand sanitizers to discontinue the sale and use or submit stock to the nearest NAFDAC office.

It also stressed on the need for importers, distributors, retailers and consumers to exercise caution and vigilance to avoid the distribution, sale and use of methanol alcohol-based hand sanitisers.

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