The products in question include Purell advanced hand sanitizer gentle & free foam, Purell advanced hand sanitizer gel and Purell advanced hand sanitizer gentle & free foam ES6 starter kit, according to the FDA. When are hand sanitizers useful? "We are not aware of evidence demonstrating that the Purell Healthcare Advanced Hand Sanitizer products as formulated and labeled are generally recognized by qualified experts as safe and effective for use under the conditions suggested, recommended, or prescribed in their labeling," the letter stated. ©2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. “If that material happens to be bacterium or a virus, it’s going to be destabilized to the point where it may not be able to continue functioning or living.”. Please read our Commenting Policy first. “However, FDA is currently not aware of any adequate and well-controlled studies demonstrating that killing or decreasing the number of bacteria or viruses on the skin by a certain magnitude produces a corresponding clinical reduction in infection or disease caused by such bacteria or virus,” the FDA warning reads. All rights reserved. Add Info. READ MORE: Purell hand sanitizer, available at most drugstores, does not leave residue after its rubbed in. Other personal care brands in the past have also been in the crosshairs of regulators over unproven product claims. Comment. Purell hand sanitizer, available at most drugstores, does not leave residue after its rubbed in. How effective hand sanitizing is, though, depends largely on how it’s used. Turkish people are relying on the country's traditional cologne to fight COVID-19 — and it's flying off the shelves. That gives Gojo Industries two options: It can market Purell as a drug, and file a new application to get approval for the Purell products to be classified as such. Hand sanitizers come with other limitations, as well. Get an alert when a recall is issued. Download the FOX 5 DC News App for Local Breaking News and Weather, However, Samantha Williams, corporate communications senior director of GoJo told FOX Business the company immediately took action after receiving the letter and "have begun updating relevant website and other digital content as directed by the FDA. Beyond these statements, the website also advises consumers that it can protect against specific illnesses such as norovirus, the flu and Ebola. The FDA said it is not aware of research that proves these claims. Keep away from fire or flame. “You’re killing germs; that’s what a hand sanitizer is designed to do,” he said, adding the alcohol will kill organic material.