Toxic Hand Sanitizer Recalled in Michigan Over Warnings It Could Cause Blindness

The FDA is warning about a hand sanitizer and a pain-relieving aloe gel that are both being recalled due to a toxic chemical that could cause blindness, seizures, comas, or death.

The products were sold in Michigan and nationwide.

Hand Sanitizer Gel and Pain Relief Gel Recall

According to the FDA, multiple lots of Aruba Aloe Hand Sanitizer Gel Alcohol 80% and Aruba Aloe Alcoholada Gel were found to contain "alcohol denatured with methanol".

They say substantial methanol exposure can cause nausea, vomiting, headache blurred vision, coma, seizures, permanent blindness, permanent damage to the central nervous system, or death.

While all people using the products on their hands are at risk, in particular, young children who may ingest the products accidentally, or those who drink these products as an alcohol substitute are most at risk for methanol poisoning.

What Aruba Aloe Products are Recalled?

Here are the details on the specific products recalled:

• Aruba Aloe Hand Sanitizer Gel, 12 fl oz (355 mL) dark green plastic bottles with white label reading in part “ARUBA ALOE Hand Sanitizer GEL 80% Alcohol Made in Aruba World’s Finest Aloe”, with barcode 0 82252 03300 5.

• Aruba Aloe Alcoholada Gel (used for pain and itching relief), 2.2 fl oz (65 mL) plastic bottles with barcode 0 82252 34030 1, and 8.5 fl oz (251 mL) plastic bottles with barcode 0 82252 03120 9.

The gels were distributed May 1, 2021 and October 27, 2023, and sold online via the Aruba Aloe Balm N.V. website.

You can find specific lot numbers here.

What to Do if You Bought the Recalled Aruba Aloe Products

If you bought the recalled Aruba Aloe hand sanitizer or gel, stop using it and throw it out.

Aruba Aloe says they have emailed everyone who bought the product and offered them a "discount coupon".

Anyone experiencing issues after using the product should contact their physician or healthcare provider.

Anyone with questions can contact Aruba Aloe Balm N.V. by email at  recall@arubaaloe.com.