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By Chloe Mayer
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A hand sanitizer and a pain-relieving aloe gel have both been hit with a nationwide recall after officials discovered they contained a toxic chemical that could cause comas, seizures, blindness, or death.
The two products, Aruba Aloe Hand Sanitizer Gel Alcohol 80% and Aruba Aloe Alcoholada Gel, were found to contain methanol, which is toxic to the skin and poisonous if ingested. The gels were made by Aruba Aloe Balm N.V., part of Netherlands-based company Royal Aruba Aloe that has locations in Aruba where its aloe is harvested. The recall was issued on Friday in conjunction with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Methanol, a chemical compound sometimes known as "wood alcohol," is more commonly found in antifreeze, varnishes, plastics, and paints, and is even used as engine fuel to power ships and buses, according to the Methanol Institute, the global trade association for the industry. It is "extremely poisonous," and ingesting as little as 30 milliliters could kill a child while just 2 ounces could be deadly for an adult, according to a prognosis information document published online by the Mount Sinai Health System, which runs a medical school and eight hospitals across New York. Urgent medical intervention is necessary to try to prevent death, and the sufferer may have their stomach pumped and dialysis to clean out their kidneys during treatment.
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The hand gel's company statement made for grim reading as it warned that two of its products "have been found to contain alcohol denatured with methanol [...] Substantial methanol exposure can result in nausea, vomiting, headache blurred vision, coma, seizures, permanent blindness, permanent damage to the central nervous system, or death.
"Although all persons using these products on their hands are at risk, young children who accidently ingest these products and adolescents and adults who drink these products as an alcohol (ethanol) substitute are most at risk for methanol poisoning."
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The company said it had notified all its customers by email and offered them "a discount coupon for a next purchase."
The products were distributed between 5/1/2021 and 10/27/2023 and were sold in the U.S. via the Aruba Aloe Balm N.V. website.
Consumers "should contact their physician or healthcare provider if they have experienced any problems that may be related to taking or using this drug product," the company said, adding that it had not received "any reports of adverse events related to these products."
Consumers were warned to immediately stop using the gels and dispose of them. Any questions that customers have about the recall should be emailed to the company at recall@arubaaloe.com, while they should also report any medical problems related to the products to the FDA's MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program using an online form on the FDA's website.
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A Royal Aruba Aloe spokesperson told Newsweek in a statement: "Recently Royal Aruba Aloe (RAA) has executed a voluntary 'recall' of some of its products.
"In 2021 the USA Drug and Food Administration (FDA) introduced new regulations related to Hand Sanitizers which no longer are permitted to contain Alcohol that is denatured with Methyl Alcohol.
"Up until 2021, RAA was using Methyl Alcohol to denature the Alcohol in its Hand Sanitizers and the Alcoholada Gels.
"Upon receiving the FDA memo regarding the use of Methyl Alcohol, RAA proceeded to change all formulas concerning this new regulation and since then is not using any Alcohol denatured with Methyl Alcohol anymore.
"After a recent regular inspection by the FDA, it was recommended by the FDA to do a voluntary recall of all Hand Sanitizers and Alhoholada Gels ensuring that none of the old products (if any) are used any further.
"RAA has contacted via email all the USA based customers who acquired the products during this period and informed them accordingly."
The recall warning was shared by the FDA, whose website explains that when "a company announces a recall, market withdrawal, or safety alert, the FDA posts the company's announcement as a public service."
Consumers have various rights when an item they've purchased is hit by a recall, with most recalls typically offering full refunds or future discounts.
Update 4/9/24, 11:43 a.m. ET: This article was updated to include a statement by Royal Aruba Aloe.
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