There was a 79% increase in the number of calls related to hand sanitizer to the National Poison Data System this March compared to the same month last year. The majority of those calls were for unintentional exposure in children under 5 years of age.
"It is important that hand sanitizers are manufactured in a way that makes them unpalatable to people, especially young children, and that they are appropriately labeled to discourage accidental or intentional ingestion. Additionally, hand sanitizers are not proven to treat COVID-19, and like other products meant for external use, are not for ingestion, inhalation, or intravenous use," said FDA Commissioner Stephen M. Hahn.
"Many of the compounds that are used in hand sanitizers have a sweet or fruity taste and smell. These compounds, however, are often toxic or lethal if ingested. It is important that companies making these products add bitter compounds to prevent children from ingesting them," said Frank Cusimano, a human nutrition scientist from Midwestern University.
To address the increased call volume, earlier this week the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, through the Health Resources and Services Administration,Hand sanitizer is seen here in this undated stock photo.Earlier this month, the FDA received a report of a 13-year-old who drank hand sanitizer packaged in a liquor bottle from a distillery. The sanitizer was not denatured and reportedly tasted like normal alcohol.
"Manufacturers need to remember to follow the FDA guidelines and not take unnecessary shortcuts to produce more hand sanitizer during the pandemic. While yes, there is a shortage of sanitizers, different ingredients in sanitizers come with different risks if they are accidentally consumed or ingested," Cusimano said.
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