Deadly COVID-19 Hand Sanitizer Production Surge Prompted US FDA's New Import Alert Category

New import alert category and border testing required after reduced standards put dangerous sanitizers into hands of US consumers.

Coronavirus prevention medical surgical masks and hand sanitizer gel for hand hygiene corona virus protection.
US FDA Creates New Import Category In Responding To Loosening Manufacturing Standards • Source: Shutterstock

The US Food and Drug Administration has created a new import alert category, 66-78, to stem the importation of contaminated hand sanitizers, which has caused nationwide adverse events and some deaths.

The agency's action responds to methanol contamination that followed a loosening standards for these products to enable a swift increase in production to

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