Hand Sanitizer, Aloe Gel Recalled Because It Can Cause Comas, Blindness

Woman applying hand sanitizer or soap

Photo: matspersson0 / E+ / Getty Images

The Food and Drug Administration announced a recall of 40 lots of hand sanitizer and aloe gel because they are contaminated with a dangerous chemical.

The FDA said that Aruba Aloe Hand Sanitizer Gel Alcohol 80% and Aruba Aloe Alcoholada Gel contain methanol, which can cause serious health complications.

"Substantial methanol exposure can result in nausea, vomiting, headache, blurred vision, coma, seizures, permanent blindness, permanent damage to the central nervous system, or death," the FDA said in the recall notice.

The recalled products were distributed between May 2021 and October 2023. They were only sold online through the company's website.

The Aruba Aloe Hand Sanitizer Gel was sold in 12 fluid-ounce dark green plastic bottles with a white label reading "ARUBA ALOE Hand Sanitizer GEL 80% Alcohol Made in Aruba World's Finest Aloe" and marked with barcode 0 82252 03300 5.

The Aruba Aloe Alcoholada Gel was sold in two sizes, 2.2 fluid ounces and 8.5 fluid ounces, in transparent plastic bottles labeled "Alcoholada Gel Pain Relieving Gel 0.5% Lidocaine Hydrochloride."

The smaller bottles have a barcode 0 82252 34030 1, while the barcode on the larger bottles is 0 82252 03120 9.

You can view the list of lot codes here.

Aruba Aloe Balm N.V. said it has notified any customers who purchased the recalled products and offered them a discount coupon on their next purchase.

Customers were advised to stop using the products immediately and throw them in the trash.


Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content