Agency warns consumers against sanitisers packaged in food, drink containers

*Consuming even small amounts of hand sanitiser could be fatal, says FDA

Alexander Davis | ConsumerConnect

Though several consumers might think that manufacturers of hand sanitisers would want to clearly mark what their products are, apparently it is not always the case.

ConsumerConnect reports the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in a warning published on its Web site about alcohol-based hand sanitisers says the products are being packaged to make them look like food or drink products.

Consumers who mistake what these products are could be putting themselves in great danger since ingesting even small amounts of hand sanitiser can be potentially lethal, the regulatory agency warned.

FDA Commissioner Stephen M. Hahn declares that these products are especially dangerous to children.

Hahn states in the warning: “It’s dangerous to add scents with food flavours to hand sanitisers which children could think smells like food, eat and get alcohol poisoning.”

It urged manufacturers to be vigilant about packaging and marketing their hand sanitisers in food or drink packages in an effort at mitigating any potential inadvertent use by consumers.

The agency cites examples of hand sanitisers being packaged to look like bottled water or being dressed up with cartoons that would appeal to children.

The regulation maintains that it is essential for parents, who want to keep their kids safe to recognise these products for what they are.

“Drinking only a small amount of hand sanitiser is potentially lethal to a young child, who may be attracted by a pleasant smell or brightly coloured bottle of hand sanitiser,” stated the agency.

Report says the agency is currently keeping a running list of hand sanitisers it says may be dangerous for consumers to use.

For those navigating the COVID-19 pandemic, therefore, it may be an essential tool that’s worth checking on a regular basis.