Hand Sanitizers Can Stay...For Now

The FDA will not remove hand sanitizers from shelves at this time while research continues. Hand sanitizers contain several ingredients.  One of these, triclosan, of which I posted on before, was removed from the mix some time ago.  Another questionable ingredient, benzethonium chloride, is found in very few sanitizers, but is being scrutinized.  The other two ingredients under discussion are ethyl alcohol and isopropyl alcohol.  Currently the FDA will not remove hand sanitizers containing these ingredients while research is ongoing.

According to the cmmonline website, the American Cleaning Institute (ACI), said regarding hand sanitizers, “Hand sanitizers are a critical part of healthy hand hygiene routines for millions of people every single day. On behalf of our members who produce hand sanitizers and their ingredients, the American Cleaning Institute looks forward to providing additional data to ensure the FDA has complete and up-to-date information on ethanol and benzalkonium chloride used in these beneficial products. ACI welcomes the agency’s decision to allow adequate time to complete the new studies to generate the data the agency is requesting.”