Health Canada is advising Canadians that a brand of hand sanitizer is being recalled because it may pose "health risks."
Multiple lots of the Sani-Derm hand sanitizer are being recalled from the marketplace because they may contain type DA-2I ethanol, explains a news release.
DA-2I is not authorized for hand sanitizer use and frequent washing with the products may result in dry skin, causing irritation or cracking.
Since industrial-grade ethanol has not been approved for use in hand sanitizers in Canada, the Department has not reviewed it for safety or efficacy.
Industrial-grade ethanol contains impurities that are not found in the type of ethanol approved for use in manufacturing hand sanitizers, such as technical-grade, food-grade or pharmaceutical-grade ethanol. In addition, chemicals that may not be approved for use in hand sanitizers are added to industrial-grade ethanol.
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.
