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Canada-wide recall issued for 15 hand sanitizers due to 'health risks'

Counterfeit products may contain ingredients not listed on the label, dangerous additives or other contaminants.
hand-sanitizer-health-canada-recall
Health Canada is advising Canadians that multiple hand sanitizers have been added to a growing recall list because they may pose health risks to consumers.

Health Canada is advising Canadians that multiple hand sanitizers have been added to a growing recall list because they may pose health risks to consumers.

The products are being recalled from the marketplace because they do not meet Health Canada's requirements, and customers should stop using them immediately, explains a release from the department. 

Reasons for recall include:

  • containing (or possibly containing) ingredients that are not permitted by Health Canada;
  • improper labelling;
  • missing risk statements;
  • being unauthorized for sale in Canada;
  • being sold without proper product testing;
  • being counterfeit; or
  • having defective or faulty packaging.

Soaring demand for hand sanitizers due to COVID-19

Health Canada adds that the demand for hand sanitizers increased drastically due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and that it has temporarily allowed manufacturers to use technical-grade ethanol in alcohol-based hand sanitizers to keep up with demand.

That said, technical-grade ethanol sanitizers have more impurities than pharmaceutical- and food-grade ethanol, and manufacturers must choose from a list of Health Canada-authorized suppliers. Additionally, they must receive a No Objection Letter from the department before they can manufacture or distribute the product.

Manufacturers must also include specific risk statements on their product labels if the ethanol impurities exceed a certain level.

Unauthorized denaturants and medicinal ingredients

Two unauthorized denaturants have been found in hand sanitizers sold in Canada:

  • Ethyl acetate: Frequent use of hand sanitizer containing ethyl acetate may cause dry skin, leading to irritation or cracking
  • Methanol: Frequent use of hand sanitizer containing methanol may cause dermatitis, eye irritation, upper respiratory system irritation and headaches

An unauthorized medicinal ingredient has been found in hand sanitizers sold in Canada:

  • 1-Propanol: Frequent use of hand sanitizer containing 1-propanol may cause eye, nose and throat irritation, as well as dry cracking skin, drowsiness and headache

Counterfeit products may contain ingredients not listed on the label, dangerous additives or other contaminants. In addition, they may not contain the active ingredients Canadians would expect them to contain. Since counterfeit products are unauthorized and made with an unknown formulation, they may not be effective at killing bacteria and viruses, and may pose serious risks to health.

Have a look at the list of the recalled products. 

Product

Reason for recall

Company

NPN or DIN

Lot Number(s)

Expiry Date

Date Added

Annex/Raft Hand Sanitizer

Faulty packaging; not properly labelled (incorrect product expiry date placement)

Annex Ale Project, Limited

80098532

001

002

003

004

005

006

007

008

009

010

011

April 25, 2020 to June 9, 2020

2021-02-03

Anti-Microbe

Not properly labelled (improper directions for use in children)

ATOMS F.D., INC.

02248351

All

All

2021-02-03

Germs Be Gone Hand Sanitizer Gel

Not properly labelled (incorrect label)

Brands International Corporation

80101519

20146030

May 2023

2021-02-03

Gigi's Goodbye Germs Hand Sanitizer

Not authorized for sale in Canada

Simply at Home, Inc.

Unlicensed. Affected lots are labelled with the incorrect NPN 00167630 or 80099956.

BB/MA 30/AL/2025

BB/MA 29/AL/2025

BB/MA 28/AL/2025

BB/MA 27/AL/2025

BB/MA 24/AL/2025

BB/MA 23/AL/2025

BB/MA 22/AL/2025

BB/MA 21/AL/2025

BB/MA 20/AL/2025

BB/MA 16/AL/2025

BB/MA 15/AL/2025

BB/MA 14/AL/2025

April 2025

2021-02-03

Gigi's Goodbye Germs Hand Sanitizer

Not authorized for sale in Canada

Simply at Home, Inc.

Unlicensed. Affected lots are labelled with the incorrect NPN 00167630 or 80099956.

BB/MA 07/MA/2025

BB/MA 06/MA/2025

BB/MA 05/MA/2025

BB/MA 04/MA/2025

BB/MA 01/MA/2025

 

May 2025

2021-02-03

Happy Natural Products - Ethanol Sanitizer 80%

(May also be sold as Happy Hand Sanitizer)

Not properly labelled (invalid NPN)

Midori Products, Inc.

80099774 (does not appear on the label)

Not printed on the label

Not printed on the label

2021-02-03

Hello Bello Hand Sanitizer Gel

Alternate Brand Names: SiL Hand Gel Sanitizer; AK Hand Sanitizer; Carry Clean Hand Gel; Defcon Hand Sanitizer; Lifebrand Hand Sanitizer; SiL Antiseptic Gel

Not properly labelled (improper directions for use in children); sold without proper testing

Unconditional Love Canada, Inc.
 

80100271

All

All

2021-02-03

Hello Bello Hand Sanitizer Spray

Alternate Brand Names: Hand Sanitizer Spray

Not properly labelled (improper directions for use in children);  sold without proper testing

Unconditional Love Canada, Inc.
 

80096879

All

All

2021-02-03

Hello Bello Hand Sanitizer Spray

Alternate Brand Names: SiO2 Innovation Labs Hand Sanitizer Spray; Carry Clean Hand Sanitizer Spray; DEFCON 1 Hand Sanitizer Spray; McCaughey Consumer Products Hand Sanitizer Spray

Not properly labelled (improper directions for use in children);  sold without proper testing

Unconditional Love Canada, Inc.
 

80099139

All

All

2021-02-03

HydraPure Gel

Missing risk statements; product not authorized to contain technical-grade ethanol

Les Eaux Saint-Leger/ Waters, Inc.

80097923

20119

April 2021

2021-02-03

HydraPure Gel

Missing risk statements; product not authorized to contain technical-grade ethanol

Les Eaux Saint-Leger/ Waters, Inc.

80097923

20128

May 2021

2021-02-03

PurGerme; ByeByeGerms; Cardea

Contains unacceptable medicinal ingredient, 1-propanol

Groupe LAV Inc.

80098625

All lots manufactured between March 2020 and September 2020 except SO-0629A, SO-0629B, 80098625, 80098625-8, 2010002, 2010006, 2010007, 2010008, 2010013, 2010014, 2010015, 2011001, 2011002, 2011004, 2011005, 2011006, 2012001, and 2012002

March 2023 to September 2023

2021-02-03

Silver Sanitizer

Not authorized for sale in Canada

10932540 Canada, Inc. DBA Bio Life Sciences Corp.

Unlicensed (no NPN or DIN on label)

All

All

2021-02-03

Xero Germs

Sold without proper testing

National Therapy Products, Inc.

80100321

N20249

July 2022

2021-02-03

Zytec Germ Buster

Counterfeit product

Northern National Sales, Inc.

80015625

3329733126

April 2022

2021-02-03

 

What you should do

  • Stop using the products identified in the table.
    • Follow municipal or regional guidelines on how to dispose of chemicals and other hazardous waste; or
    • Return the product to your local pharmacy for proper disposal
  • Contact the company if you would like more information about the recall
  • Consult your health care professional if you have used these products and have health concerns

To help limit the spread of COVID-19, wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

If soap and water are not available, use alcohol-based hand sanitizers that have been authorized for sale in Canada. Consult these resources for more information:

Report any health product adverse events or complaints to Health Canada.