Out of the adulterated one, four per cent contained toxic methanol, which can cause blindness
Consumer Guidance Society of India (CGSI), the oldest consumer body of the country, tested 122 hand sanitizers in Mumbai and Thane as a part of a scientific study and found that nearly 50 per cent were adulterated. Out of them, four per cent contained toxic methanol, which can cause blindness.
The 54-year-old organisation, the oldest such body in the country, said it will forward the report to the Central government and the Food and Drug Administration so that action can be initiated.
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In an online conference, Dr M S Kamath, secretary at CGSI, said as constant hand washing and sanitizing has become the norm during the pandemic, several unscrupulous manufacturers have entered the business “to make quick money and take advantage of the situation”.
Through a webinar Kamath said, “An adulterated hand sanitizer is one that does not comply with its label specifications.”
He added, “Due to public health emergency posed by COVID-19, many unscrupulous manufacturers have entered this business to make quick money and take advantage of the scary pandemic situation.”
According to Dr. Kamath "effective sanitizers are those that contain at least 60% or more alcohol.”
The report that was released on Monday stated that sanitizers containing methanol do not qualify as an ingredient as it is a banned item.
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