FDA warns against use of ArtNaturals hand sanitizers

Americans shouldn’t use ArtNaturals hand sanitizers because the Food and Drug Administration has found benzene and other carcinogenic chemicals in products sold nationwide. FDA warning comes days after Coppertone recalled five aerosol sunscreens and several months after CVS Health stopped selling two branded aloe vera products for the same reason.

In his alert this week, the FDA said it found “unacceptable levels of benzene, acetaldehyde and acetal contaminants” in some ArtNaturals fragrance-free hand sanitizers, and urged not to use ArtNaturals hand sanitizers. The safety agency’s warning came after several failed attempts to contact its manufacturer to discuss a possible recall, the FDA said.

Benzene and acetaldehyde are both linked to cancer in humans, while acetal can irritate the upper respiratory tract, eyes and skin, according to the agency. ArtNaturals hand sanitizers should be disposed of, ideally in a safe hazardous waste container, not poured down a drain or flushed.

ArtNaturals is billed on its website as a company “born out of a desire to free beauty from high prices, toxic chemicals and general bad vibes.” The brand’s skin care and related products are sold through retailers including Amazon and Walmart.

The FDA was urged to take action earlier this year after online pharmacy Valisure said it found high levels of benzene in a multitude of disinfectants, including ArtNatural some products. Valisure, based in New Haven, Connecticut, noted that contaminated hand sanitizers emerged as the COVID-19 pandemic flooded the market with new products after mainstream brands disappeared.

ArtNaturals hand sanitizer gels are made in China and distributed by California-based ArtNaturals in Gardena, according to Valisure. ArtNaturals did not respond to a request for comment from CBS MoneyWatch.

FDA listing hand sanitizers not to use only increased in a year in which the Federal Security Agency faced AA pandemic-peak induced in disinfectants contaminated with another toxin: methanol, or wood alcohol.