One consumer reported sanitizer packaged in what appeared to be a water bottle. An unnamed retailer told the FDA they encountered “a hand sanitizer product marketed with cartoons for children that was in a pouch that resembled a snack.” The agency itself claims to have found hand sanitizer sold in “beer cans, children’s food pouches, water bottles, juice bottles, and vodka bottles.” Food flavorings had been added to some. RELATED: For more up-to-date information, sign up for our daily newsletter. Packaging a non-food product so that it can be confused with something edible is obviously extremely dangerous, especially for children who are easily lured by bright packaging. Ingesting hand sanitizer can lead to “cardiac effects, effects on the central nervous system, hospitalizations, and death,” per the FDA. Even a small amount can be lethal to a child. “I am increasingly concerned about hand sanitizer being packaged to appear to be consumable products, such as baby food or beverages,” said FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn, MD. “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.“ae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb The release does not indicate where the items were purchased or name any manufacturers involved. But, while the FDA investigates these products, they urge consumers to be extra cautious when making purchases. Avoid unfamiliar brands and read labels thoroughly, especially if you have children in your home. For more advice on what to avoid, check out The CDC Just Issued This Deadly New Warning About Hand Sanitizer.
