The agency states that 84 percent of hand sanitizers imported from Mexico are not in compliance with FDA regulations, and that they were found to contain toxic ingredients that include methanol and/or 1-propanol at unacceptable levels. FDA analyzed the samples from April through December in 2020.

“Under the import alert, alcohol-based hand sanitizers from Mexico offered for import are subject to heightened FDA scrutiny, and FDA staff may detain the shipment,” the agency stated in a release. “As part of the entry review, FDA staff will consider any specific evidence offered by importers or manufacturers to ensure hand sanitizers were manufactured according to U.S. current good manufacturing practice requirements.”

Hand sanitizers became a hot item in stores after COVID-19 reached the United States almost a year ago, leading Americans to buy the product as a way to help thwart contracting the novel coronavirus. In June, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) began identifying a few hand sanitizers that had toxic chemicals.

What began with nine products in June grew into more than 200 hand sanitizing products by Labor Day Weekend. It started with products made and distributed from Mexico to products both made and distributed here in the states.

The chief reason for recall is the presence of methanol (wood alcohol), or 1-propanol. The FDA has now listed more than 200 hand sanitizers on its “do-not-use” list, with the majority of those being produced, bottled and shipped from Mexico.

The FDA has stated it will continually look into products to ensure safety for those who purchase and use them.

“FDA remains vigilant and will continue to take action when quality issues arise with hand sanitizers,” it said. “Additionally, the agency is concerned with false and misleading claims for hand sanitizers, for example that they can provide prolonged protection such as 24-hours against viruses including COVID-19, since there is no evidence to support these claims.”

Though hand sanitizer is commonly recommended to help keep your hands clean while in public—or even inside your home—so many of them have been discovered to have methanol, which can be toxic if either ingested or infiltrated wrongly through skin.

Here is the list from the FDA website: