Health Canada added a number of hand sanitizers to its recall list yesterday (July 21).  

These have been recalled because they contain ethanol or denaturants that have not been approved in Canada as the Health Department hasn’t reviewed them for safety or efficacy. 

Denaturants are added to ethanol to make them unfit for human consumption, particularly so children won’t eat them.  

Health Canada says these unacceptable types of ethanol or denaturants can cause side effects including dermatitis, such as skin irritation and cracking, eye irritation, upper respiratory system irritation, and headaches. 

What to do: 

  • Stop using the products 
  • Follow municipal or regional guidelines for disposal or return to pharmacy for proper disposal 
  • Consult your doctor with any health concerns 
  • Report any health product adverse events or complaints to Health Canada. 

Health Canada recommends washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, and use sanitizer when soap and water are not available.  

They have a list of hand sanitizers that are authorized for sale in Canada, available HERE. 

The list of recalled products is available HERE.