Methanol-based sanitizers can cause blindness and death – NAFDAC warns

According to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Nigerians should avoid using some hand sanitizers, 

A public alert headed "Recall of Hand Sanitizers by DiBAR Nutricional due to the presence of Methanol" contains the warning.

Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, NAFDAC Director-General, said the agency had received information from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) about the presence of methanol in some sanitizers.

Dibar Labs hand sanitizers, ProtectoRX hand sanitizers, and Advance hand sanitizers are all being recalled by Nutricional S,de R,L De C.V (Dibar) due to safety concerns.The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) cautioned Nigerians against the use of certain hand sanitizers.

The warning is contained in a public alert titled “Recall of Hand Sanitizers by DiBAR Nutricional due to the presence of Methanol”.

Methanol or wood alcohol is a substance that can be toxic when absorbed through the skin or ingested and can be life-threatening.

It can result in nausea, vomiting, headache, blurred vision, permanent blindness, seizures, coma, permanent damage to the nervous system or death.

Those at risk include persons who use affected sanitizers on their hands, young children who accidentally ingest the products, and adolescents and adults who drink the products as alcohol (ethanol) substitutes.

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

The agency asked Nigerians experiencing the listed symptoms were urged to seek treatment for a potential reversal of toxic effects of poisoning.

Importers, distributors, retailers, and consumers were urged by NAFDAC to stop distributing, selling, and using methanol alcohol-based hand sanitizers.

Problems can be reported to the local NAFDAC office, the toll-free number 20543, or the website.