CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Health Canada has recalled another hand sanitizer product from a P.E.I. business.
The latest is Upstreet Craft Brewing's Do Gooder Hand Sanitizer (65 per cent) and Do Gooder Hand Sanitizer (80 per cent).
The recall notice was posted on Health Canada's website last week.
Health Canada said in an email to The Guardian on Monday that it did not receive any complaints about the products' use. However, both Upstreet products contain denaturant ethyl acetate.
The concern with ethyl acetate is that if used excessively, it may lead to dry skin causing irritation or cracking.
The presence of ethyl acetate as an ingredient is the same reason a hand sanitizer from P.E.I.-based BioVectra was recalled by Health Canada earlier this month. Similarly, Health Canada did not receive any complaints about BioVectra's sanitizers.
Upstreet posted information about the recall on its Facebook page last week.
"We went into it not realizing that there was specific denaturant agents in the alcohol that were a no-go. And, I guess in the process of registering to product the product with Health Canada, the motivating was there to make sure hand sanitizer was available to the population. So, I think it was just overlooked at the time. Otherwise, we would have found another way to contribute, I think," said Joel Walker, Upstreet's production manager.
He said the business didn't receive any direct complaints about the hand sanitizers. Even so, the business understands that Health Canada is required to make sure everyone is safe, and followed the recall notification and removed products at the retail level.
"We were happy to help out while we could. And while it was unfortunate that we had to do this recall, we're still not regretful over trying to help out for the greater good," he said.
More information about Health Canada's recalls and safety alerts can be found under "services and information" at Canada.ca/en/services/health/health-risks-safety.html.
