FDA Warns Consumers About Alcohol-Based Sanitizers That Look Like Food or Drinks

On Thursday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gave a warning about alcohol-based sanitizers packaged in containers that look like food or drinks. The FDA says these “may put consumers at risk of serious injury or death if ingested.”

“The agency has discovered that some hand sanitizers are being packaged in beer cans, children’s food pouches, water bottles, juice bottles and vodka bottles. Additionally, the FDA has found hand sanitizers that contain food flavors, such as chocolate or raspberry,” the FDA wrote.

FDA Commissioner Stephen M. Hahn, M.D. then said that these products may confuse consumers into ingesting a potentially deadly product by accident.

He feels concerned about hand sanitizer having packaging that look like consumables, “such as baby food or beverages,” Hahn also revealed. “These products could confuse consumers into accidentally ingesting a potentially deadly product. It’s dangerous to add scents with food flavors to hand sanitizers which children could think smells like food, eat and get alcohol poisoning,” he said.

Hahn also pointed out that manufacturers should be “vigilant about packaging and marketing their hand sanitizers in food or drink packages in an effort to mitigate any potential inadvertent use by consumers.”

The FDA continues to monitor these products and will take the necessary actions to protect Americans, he said.

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