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Is Hand Sanitizer Safe? FDA Asks For More Ingredient Info

WASHINGTON (CBS) – A squirt of hand sanitizer a few times a day has become routine for many Americans, but the FDA wants to know more about what exactly is going into those products.

Government officials say they're not implying that hand sanitizers are ineffective or unsafe, but there are "gaps in scientific data" they want to fill.

"Today, consumers are using antiseptic rubs more frequently at home, work, school and in other public settings where the risk of infection is relatively low," said Dr. Janet Woodcock, director of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. "These products provide a convenient alternative when hand washing with plain soap and water is unavailable, but it's our responsibility to determine whether these products are safe and effective so that consumers can be confident when using them on themselves and their families multiple times a day."

Specifically, the FDA is asking makers of hand sanitizers to provide data on alcohol, isopropyl alcohol and benzalkonium chloride. Scientists will study the effects of those ingredients after repeated exposures, and whether they pose any harm to pregnant women and children.

The American Cleaning Institute, which represents hand sanitizer manufacturers, say it believes the FDA already has plenty of information on hand sanitizer ingredients but it will work with the agency to provide as much data as necessary.

The CDC recommends that washing hands with soap and water is still the best defense against germs. It recommends using a hand sanitizer containing at least 60 percent alcohol if soap and water are unavailable.

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