National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has warned Nigerians against the use of alcohol-based hand sanitisers imported from Mexico.
NAFDAC’s Director-General, Mojisola Adeyeye, in a public alert issued on Monday, said all alcohol-based hand sanitisers from Mexico had been placed on a countrywide import alert by the US Food and Drug Agency (USFDA).
Adeyeye said USFDA disclosed that the products were labelled as containing ethanol but were found to have methanol contamination.
According to NAFDAC, USFDA said the products would remain on its watchlist until it was able to review the safety.
NAFDAC said, “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 sanitiser or other drugs.
“Under the import alert, alcohol-based hand sanitisers 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 warned that substantial methanol exposure could result in nausea, vomiting, headache, blurred vision, permanent blindness, seizures, coma, permanent damage to the nervous system or death.
Adeyeye also stated that the usage of the products on hands could also expose the user to methanol poisoning.
The NAFDAC boss urged importers, distributors, retailers, and consumers to exercise caution and be vigilant to avoid the distribution, sale and use of methanol alcohol-based hand sanitisers.
She also cautioned those in possession of such products to discontinue the sale or use and submit the stock to the nearest NAFDAC office.
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