The Healthy Canadians page on the Government Canada website, has recently released a safety warning about the use of homemade hand sanitizer. Health Canada is warning Canadians about the potential health risks of making and using homemade hand sanitizers, as homemade recipes and products are becoming increasingly common online.

You are asked to stop if you have been using homemade sanitizer, as homemade versions of the product may not possess a high enough alcohol concentration to kill the virus. These homemade recipes can also result in problems such as skin irritation or allergies. Not only are they potentially unsafe for you, they are dangerous to create in your home. Even reputable formulas, such as the one recommended by the World Health Organization is not appropriate to be made at home, instead being intended licensed producers in a controlled environment.

Health Canada recommends using only hand sanitizers authorized for sale in Canada. Breweries and distilleries have started making product, and should have a Natural Product Number, or Drug Identification Number, which are signs of an authorized sanitizer.

You can still wash your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds at a time, as a way to limit the spread of the virus.

If you have made or used homemade hand sanitizer products, stop using them.

Full info on the safety warning is available here