Health Canada adds to growing hand sanitizer recall list, warns of possible health risks

Photo of woman applying hand sanitizer. (Anna Shvets/Pexels)

TORONTO — Health Canada continues to expand its growing recall of hand sanitizers sold in Canadian stores that the agency says may pose certain health risks.

The agency said the hand sanitizers have been recalled because they either contain ingredients that are not permitted for use in Canada or are not properly labelled and are missing important information.

The recall, issued in June and updated on Friday, advises anyone with the products in their home to stop using them immediately and consult a health-care professional if they have health concerns.

The latest addition to the recall notice includes Heyseller Inc.'s HeyPur hand sanitizer (NPN 80099351) for containing the "unacceptable medicinal ingredient" of 1-propanol.

Health Canada says frequent use of hand sanitizers containing 1-propanol may cause eye, nose and throat irritation, as well as dry cracking skin, drowsiness and headaches.

Other "unauthorized denaturants" found in the recalled products, such as industrial-grade ethanol and methanol, can cause dermatitis, eye irritation, upper respiratory system irritation, headaches and irritated or cracked skin, according to Health Canada.

Other recently recalled hand sanitizer include:

A list of the previously recalled hand sanitizers can be found here.

Another product on the list of recalled sanitizers is Snake Lake Brewing Company - Ethanol Sanitizer 80% (DIN 80100225, Lot 0002), but the company says the issue has been rectified and “the current sales of the product are in compliance with Health Canada standards.”

Indeed, the Snake Lake Brewing Company - Ethanol Sanitizer 80% product with the same DIN number is also on Health Canada’s list of authorized hand sanitizers.

In a statement to CTVNews.ca, Health Canada said that particular lot was recalled "because it was sold prior to receiving Health Canada approval to manufacture or distribute hand sanitizer containing technical grade ethanol (TGE)."

"Manufacturers wishing to use TGE in their product must receive a No Objection Letter (NOL) from Health Canada before they can manufacture or distribute their product. Snake Lake Brewing Company has since received a NOL from Health Canada and has updated their product label as necessary. The lot identified in the public advisory remains subject to recall for the reasons provided herein," the agency said.

Health Canada alo noted that the recall for Siding 14 Brewing Company - Ethanol Sanitizer 80% (NPN 80098925) was specific to lot numbers 20.036 to 20.073. The agency said tthese lots were recalled because they were sold prior to receiving Health Canada approval and were missing additional risk statements on the label.

Siding 14 Brewing Company has since received a NOL from Health Canada, however, the agency says the lots identified in the public advisory remain subject to recall.

Canadians are asked to consult their municipal or regional guidelines on how to properly dispose of the products. The products can also be returned to local pharmacies for disposal.

Health Canada has released a full list of sanitizers approved for sale in Canada and another list of acceptable products, which may not meet full regulatory requirements but are safe for use and will help meet national demand.

Health officials continue to advise Canadians to regularly wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds to limit the spread of COVID-19. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers can be used if soap and water is not available.