This page has been archived on the Web

Information identified as archived is provided for reference, research or recordkeeping purposes. It is not subject to the Government of Canada Web Standards and has not been altered or updated since it was archived. Please contact us to request a format other than those available.

Public advisory

Archived - Recall of certain hand sanitizers that may pose health risks

Starting date:
June 6, 2020
Posting date:
July 3, 2020
Type of communication:
Advisory
Subcategory:
Natural health products
Source of recall:
Health Canada
Issue:
Product Safety
Audience:
General Public
Identification number:
RA-73269

Last updated: 2020-07-10

This page has been archived. Please click on the following link for the latest information on recalled hand sanitizer.

Affected products
Product Contaminant Recalling Company NPN or DIN Lot numbers Expiry Date Date Added
Aktif Antiseptique instantané pour les mains Ethyl acetate Laboratoire Hygienex Inc. 80098088 189665189574 May 16, 2022 June 10, 2020
Biogel Ethyl acetate Groupe Savon Olympics, Inc. 80098684 0D991
0D992
0D963
0D964
0E998
0E997
0E994
April 2022 July 3, 2020
Dash Vapes Hand Sanitizer Ethyl acetate DashVapes Inc. Unlicensed (no NPN or DIN on label) 1258969 April 10, 2021 June 11, 2020
Eltraderm Hand Sanitizer - 70 % Ethyl Alcohol Ethyl acetate Eltraderm Limited 80098540 0217 April 2022 June 6, 2020
eSafe Methanol Groupe Enov, Inc. Unlicensed (no NPN or DIN on label) 20-115
20-120
20-121
April 2021 July 3, 2020
20-125
20-126
20-181
May 2021
Gel 700 Hand Sanitizer Ethyl acetate Methanol; ethyl acetate Nature's Own Cosmetic Company Inc. 80100166

118 mL format
L00521024
L00521025
L00525006

236 mL format
L00527003
L00528001
L00530003
L00525016
L00526003
L00526011
L00527001
L00528011
L00530002
L00531002

3785 mL format
L00515003

May 2022 June 10, 2020
Gel Antiseptique Pour Les Mains Ethyl acetate Mégalab Inc. 80015567 5135
5137
5138
5139
5142
5144
5149
5151
5152
5160
March 2022 June 22, 2020
Germzero Ethyl acetate Flash Beauté Inc. 80099604 243601 November 2022 June 22, 2020
Hand Sanitizer Ethyl acetate Contract Packaging Distributions Inc. 80098453 8613026
8613042
8613048
8613055
8613057
8613058
8613061
8613064
8613066
April 2022 June 6, 2020
Hand Sanitizer Alco-San Ethyl acetate Crown Chemical Products, Inc. Unlicensed (no NPN or DIN on label) 03130
03310
04070
51420-20
Not printed on the label June 30, 2020
51420-21
51520-20
July 3, 2020
Hand Sanitizer
Désinfectant pour les mains
Ethyl acetate Walker Emulsions Ltd. 80100040 210061 Not printed on the label June 6, 2020
Healthcare Plus Sanitizing Hand Gel Ethyl acetate The Color Group, Division of Canadian Custom Packaging 80002430 024002
024012
024022
021032
024042
024072
024082
024092
024003
April 2022 July 3, 2020
Isogel Ethyl acetate Lalema Inc. 80098996 5900 0004 May 13, 2021 June 11, 2020
Manogel Methanol Constant America 80098846 04291
04292
04293
04295
04301
04321
March 2022 July 3, 2020
Protectenol Hand Sanitizer Liquid Ethyl acetate Applied Lubrication Technology 80098373 20-070
20-083
20-366
20-367
20-368
20-369
20-370
20-371
20-372
20-373
Not printed on the label June 10, 2020
Sanilabs Hand Sanitizer 70% Ethanol Ethyl acetate Sanilabs Inc. 80098769 6069 April 20, 2022 June 6, 2020
6075 April 28, 2022
Sanitagel Methanol Jefo Nutrition, Inc. 80098567 07820R414
08520R414
08720R414
March 2021 July 3, 2020
09020R414
09320R414
April 2021
Smart Care Ethyl acetate R&D Technical Solutions Ltd. 80099110 005154
005155
May 2022 June 10, 2020
Tekare Instant Hand Cleanser Gel Ethyl acetate TEKPolymer Inc. Unlicensed (no NPN or DIN on the label) HG200320 (not printed on the label) April 2023 June 22, 2020
Tidol Hand Sanitizer 70% Ethyl acetate Tidol Corporation 80099632 7080 April 2022 June 10, 2020
Vima-San Ethyl acetate Crown Chemical Products, Inc. Unlicensed (no NPN or DIN on label) 02200
02270
03130
03310
Not printed on the label June 30, 2020
Walker Emulsions Hand Sanitizer Ethyl acetate Walker Emulsions Ltd. 80098678 209638 Not printed on the label June 6, 2020
X-Pure Vert-2-Go Gel Ethyl acetate Wood Wyant Inc. 80013648 109832
309132
408732
208732
109732
109232
April 2022 June 10, 2020

 

Issue

Health Canada is advising Canadians 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.

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 has not reviewed it for safety or efficacy.

A list of affected products can be found below. Health Canada will update this list if it becomes aware of other affected products, so that Canadians can easily identify ones they may have purchased and take appropriate action. Canadians are encouraged to consult the list regularly for updates.

What you should do

  • Stop using the products listed below. Please 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 jurisdiction 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.

Eltraderm Hand Sanitizer 70% Ethyl Alcohol (2020-06-01)

2020-06-01 | Health products, COVID-19

Recall

Sanilabs Hand Sanitizer 70% Ethanol (2020-06-04)

2020-06-04 | Health products, COVID-19

Recall

Gel 700 Hand Sanitizer (2020-06-04)

2020-06-04 | Health products, COVID-19

Recall

Smart Care (2020-06-04)

2020-06-04 | Health products, COVID-19

Recall

Hand Sanitizer (2020-06-01)

2020-06-01 | Health products, COVID-19

Recall
Advisory

Media enquiries

Health Canada
(613) 957-2983
hc.media.sc@canada.ca

Public enquiries

(613) 957-2991
1-866 225-0709
hcinfo.infosc@canada.ca

What Health Canada is doing

  • Health Canada has directed companies to stop the sale of these products and is monitoring the effectiveness of the recalls.
  • If Health Canada identifies additional products or manufacturers using ethanol that does not meet Health Canada requirements, the Department will take appropriate action and inform Canadians, including updating this list.