The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently announced a recall from Ashtel Studios over concerns that certain hand sanitizers packaged in pouches were misbranded. According to the recall notice, the “.84 fluid ounce pouches resemble food and drink containers made for kids.”

FDA Building 21 stands behind the sign at the campus's main entrance and houses the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research; image by FDA, Public domain.

The recall announcement comes a month after poison control officials “warned parents about a hand sanitizer product packaged in a pouch that children could mistake as a snack.” According to the Oklahoma Center for Poison and Drug Information, there is concern that companies like Ashtel Studios are “manufacturing hand sanitizer in pouches, and some appear to have cartoons on the packaging.” That may pose a danger to children. When commenting on the potential threat, Scott Schaeffer, the managing director at the Oklahoma Center for Poison and Drug Information said, “They have a very similar appearance to applesauce or one of the snack pouches that a child would use.” Schaeffer also noted that “young children may not notice the subtle differences in packaging between snack pouches and hand sanitizer.” He added:“The alcohol that’s in these products is a very high concentration. Think whiskey or even stronger than that, so a very small amount can have a very great impact on a small child.” To make matters worse, Schaeffer said noted that “the center has seen an uptick in calls for children drinking hand sanitizer since the COVID-19 pandemic began.” For now, he recommends parents keep pouches of hand sanitizer out of reach of their children.

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FDA warning: New recall for hand sanitizer after Poison control officials warned it could be mistaken as children’s food pouchesFDA issues warning about hand sanitizers disguised as food, drinks