Health Canada is advising people across the country that certain hand sanitizers are being recalled from the market because they contain industrial-grade ethanol that has not been authorized for use in hand sanitizers in Canada.
According to the federal ministry, industrial-grade ethanol contains impurities that are not found in the type of ethanol approved for use in manufacturing hand sanitizers, such as technical-grade, food-grade or pharmaceutical-grade ethanol. In addition, chemicals that may not be approved for use in hand sanitizers are added to industrial-grade ethanol.
Frequent use of these products may result in dry skin, causing irritation or cracking. Since industrial-grade ethanol has not been approved for use in hand sanitizers in Canada, the department says it has not reviewed it for safety or efficacy.
Here is a list of affected products:
| Product | Recalling Company | NPN or DIN | Lot numbers | Expiry Date | Date Added |
| Eltraderm Hand Sanitizer – 70 % Ethyl Alcohol | Eltraderm Limited | 80098540 | 0217 | April 2022 | June 6, 2020 |
| Hand Sanitizer | Contract Packaging Distributions Inc. | 80098453 | 8613026 8613042 8613048 8613055 8613057 8613058 8613061 8613064 8613066 | April 2022 | June 6, 2020 |
| Gel 700 Hand Sanitizer | Nature’s Own Cosmetic Company Inc. | 80100166 | 8613026 8613042 8613048 8613055 8613057 8613058 8613061 8613064 8613066 | May 2022 | June 6, 2020 |
| Sanilabs Hand Sanitizer 70% Ethanol | Sanilabs Inc. | 80098769 | 6069 | April 20, 2022 | June 6, 2020 |
| 6075 | April 28, 2022 | ||||
| Walker Emulsions Hand Sanitizer | Walker Emulsions Ltd. | 80098678 | 209638 | Not printed on the label | June 6, 2020 |
| Hand Sanitizer Désinfectant pour les mains | Walker Emulsions Ltd. | 80100040 | 210061 | Not printed on the label | June 6, 2020 |
What Health Canada advises you should do:
- Stop using the products listed. Follow municipal or regional guidelines on how to dispose of chemicals and other hazardous waste. You may also return the product to your local pharmacy for proper disposal.
- Consult your healthcare professional if you have used these products and have health concerns.
- To help limit the spread of COVID-19, wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use alcohol-based hand sanitizers if soap and water are not available.
- Use hand sanitizers that have been authorized for sale in Canada. Hand sanitizers that have been authorized will display either a Natural Product Number (NPN) or Drug Identification Number (DIN) on the product label. These products can be found on the list of hand sanitizers that meet Health Canada’s requirements.
- Consult the list of hand sanitizers authorized or registered in other jurisdictions that may not display an NPN or DIN but have been accepted for use in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic. This list of accepted products can be found here.
Report any health product adverse events or complaints to Health Canada.