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 said that “An adulterated hand sanitizer is one that does not comply with its label specifications.” According to the study, the five hand sanitizers that contained methanol are “instant hand sanitizers” from from Krivi Herbals Pvt. Ltd, Medicare from Avon Laboratories Misty Gold Equinox Industries, Sanitan from Aan Pharma Pvt. and Clean Hands from Avadh Engineering Pvt Ltd.
"The sale of ethanol, which is used in a sanitizer is strictly regulated and impossible to obtain without an alcohol permit." Therefore, some manufacturers, instead of using ethyl alcohol use the highly toxic methyl alcohol as a substitute which is sold at half price.
Further, sanitizers can only be recommended by epidemiologists in case soap and water aren’t available. But “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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