Photo Credit: AOL
The company Aruba Aloe Balm N.V. is issuing a recall for two of its hand sanitizer and aloe gel items due to concerns that using these products could lead to serious health issues such as comas, seizures, and other harmful effects.
According to the company, both their Aruba Aloe Hand Sanitizer Gel Alcohol 80% and Aruba Aloe Alcoholada Gel were discovered to have alcohol denatured with methanol.
The voluntary Aruba Aloe Balm N.V.’s recall notice details significant exposure to methanol that can lead to a range of severe symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, headache, blurred vision, coma, seizures, permanent blindness, permanent damage to the central nervous system, and even death.
The company stated that while everyone using these products on their hands is vulnerable, the highest risk of methanol poisoning is for young children who accidentally consume them and for adolescents and adults who use them as a substitute for ethanol.
The recalled items were distributed from May 1, 2021 to October 27, 2023.
The Hand Sanitizer Gel from Aruba Aloe is packaged in 12-fluid ounce bottles made of dark green plastic. The label reads “ARUBA ALOE Hand Sanitizer GEL 80% Alcohol Made in Aruba World’s Finest Aloe.”
The Aruba Aloe Alcoholada Gel comes in two sizes, 2.2 fluid ounces and 8.5 fluid ounces, and is specifically designed to alleviate discomfort and irritation caused by sunburns and insect bites.
The company stated that it has not received any reports of negative consequences associated with its products and that the decision to recall them was made voluntarily.
The products should be discarded by customers. Customers who bought the hand sanitizer or gel that was recalled have been informed through email and have been given a coupon to use for a discounted price on their next purchase.
To report any negative effects or concerns related to the products, please contact the FDA at their website.