The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has raised alarm over the use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers imported from Mexico.
The Director-General of NAFDAC Mojisola Adeyeye disclosed this in a public alert issued on Monday, saying the US Food and Drug Agency (USFDA) had placed all alcohol-based hand sanitizers from Mexico on a countrywide import alert.
It was reported by USFDA that the products were labelled as containing ethanol but were found to have methanol contamination.
NAFDAC said methanol is toxic and could be life-threatening if absorbed through the skin into the body system.
NAFDAC’s statement read, “The USFDA has seen a sharp increase in hand sanitiser products from Mexico that were labelled to contain ethanol (also known as ethyl alcohol) but tested positive for methanol contamination over the course of the ongoing pandemic.
“Methanol or wood alcohol is a substance that can be toxic when absorbed through the skin and life-threatening when ingested.
“Methanol is not an acceptable ingredient in hand sanitizer or other drugs.
“Under the import alert, alcohol-based hand sanitizers from Mexico offered for import are subject to heightened FDA scrutiny and the shipment may be detained.
“This marks the first time the FDA has issued a countrywide import alert for any category of drug product.”
NAFDAC said substantial methanol exposure could result in nausea, vomiting, headache, blurred vision, permanent blindness, seizures, coma, permanent damage to the nervous system or death.
Importers, distributors, retailers, and consumers are asked to exercise caution and be vigilant to avoid the distribution, sale and use of methanol alcohol-based hand sanitizers.
It also warned those in possession of such products to discontinue the sale or use and to submit the stock to the nearest NAFDAC office.
