The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) receives, with utmost concern, several reports from consumers and stakeholders regarding alleged instructional videos circulating from online and social media on how to formulate disinfectant products using a mixture of rum (an alcoholic drink), bleaching agent and hand sanitizers.
For information, bleaching agents are products containing chlorine compounds intended for bleaching clothes and disinfecting inanimate articles/surfaces. Mixing bleach with rum (with ethyl alcohol content) will produce a more dangerous and hazardous chemical that poses risk to one’s health once ingested, inhaled, or absorbed through the skin. Home-based concoction of hand sanitizers/disinfectants through online instructions such as do-it-yourself mixing of chemicals may result in physical harm or injury to you and your family.
In addition, hazardous and flammable materials such as alcohols and bleaching agents must be produced under the following conditions; (a) licensed FDA manufacturer (b) well-equipped facilities with adequate ventilation, fire alarm and prevention system, (c) licensed and trained personnel for handling chemicals; and (d) provision of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) to address health and safety concerns,
Proper and frequent hand washing using soap and running water as part of personal hygiene practices is still one of the most effective means to prevent the spread of bacteria or viruses. Hand sanitizers and rubbing alcohol may only be used as alternatives when washing facilities are unavailable or inaccessible.
Always be vigilant. Verify with authorities the veracity of the information, Be mindful of what you see and share through online/social media, as this may result to misinformation, and potentially cause more harm than good.
Dissemination of this advisory to all concerned is hereby requested.
Attachment:->FDA Advisory No.2020-496