Safety alert: Canada-wide recall issued for hand sanitizers due to 'health risks'

Health Canada is advising Canadians that a couple of hand sanitizers are being recalled because they may pose health risks.

Adbo Distribution's KeraSpa hand sanitizer and Affinite Gestion de Production's Umbrell (60 ml format) are being recalled because they contain an "unacceptable ingredient, ethyl acetate. 

Health Canada states that frequent use of a hand sanitizer containing ethyl acetate may cause dry skin, leading to irritation or cracking.

Soaring demand for hand sanitizers due to COVID-19

Health Canada states that the demand for hand sanitizers increased drastically due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and that it has temporarily allowed manufacturers to use technical-grade ethanol in alcohol-based hand sanitizers to keep up with demand.

Technical-grade ethanol sanitizers have more impurities than pharmaceutical- and food-grade ethanol, and manufacturers must choose from a list of Health Canada-authorized suppliers. Additionally, they must receive a No Objection Letter from the department before they can manufacture or distribute the product.

Manufacturers must also include specific risk statements on their product labels if the ethanol impurities exceed a certain level.

Unauthorized denaturants and medicinal ingredients

Counterfeit products may contain ingredients not listed on the label, dangerous additives or other contaminants. In addition, they may not contain the active ingredients Canadians would expect them to contain. Since counterfeit products are unauthorized and made with an unknown formulation, they may not be effective at killing bacteria and viruses, and may pose serious risks to health.

What you should do

• Stop using the products identified in the table.
  • Follow municipal or regional guidelines on how to dispose of chemicals and other hazardous waste; or
  • Return the product to your local pharmacy for proper disposal
• Contact the company if you would like more information about the recall
• Consult your health care 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.

If soap and water are not available, use alcohol-based hand sanitizers that have been authorized for sale in Canada. Consult these resources for more information:

• the list of Health Canada-authorized hand sanitizers; and
• the list of hand sanitizers authorized or registered in other jurisdictions that may not display a Natural Product Number (NPN) or Drug Identification Number (DIN) but have been accepted for use in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic

Report any health product adverse events or complaints to Health Canada.