Common supermarket sanitisers found to be safe

A CHOICE investigation of 29 retail hand sanitisers has found no cause for concern, revealing that all the products tested - each of them sourced from a major retailer - contained the minimum amount of alcohol recommended by authorities. 

The consumer advocate commissioned broader testing after its July investigation into retailer Mosaic Brands found a sanitiser sample contained only 23 per cent alcohol, well below the level required to protect against viruses such as COVID-19.

 

“After our investigation into Mosaic Brands’ sanitiser product had such a shocking result, we urgently commissioned broader testing of the common brands you’d find in your local supermarket,” says Matt Steen, director of reviews and testing at CHOICE.

“Thankfully, we can trust the most common brands available in your local supermarket.”

However, the consumer advocate says there are still major gaps in the regulation and quality control of sanitiser products and is calling for community support to expand its testing.

How does your hand sanitiser stack up?

6 comments

I keep a small bottle of hand sanitiser in my handbag called "Skin Nutrient" kills 99.99% Germs, moisturising formula, it can be bought from Coles for $3.95 for a 50ml bottle. 

Define 'germs'. I bet that actually means bacteria and theefore ineffective against viruses and COVID-19 in particular.

My hands have aged from the alcohol content in hand sanitsers since this pandemic. Soap is so much kinder to them.

Yep and really is all you need - good old fashioned soap and water.

I don't use hand sanitisers because they are too gluggy and since you're supposed to sanitise between the fingers as well..I found it impractical...I use alchohol-based hand wipes. I buy the ones containing 75% ethanol.

The alcohol-based hand wipe containing 65.9% ethanol was significantly more effective than the 62% ethanol rub in reducing the number of viable bacteria and spores on the hands.

 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21034977/

Also hand sanitisers are only effective IF your hands are clean first!

If the hands are clean why do you need the sanitisers?

“After our investigation into Mosaic Brands’ sanitiser product had such a shocking result, we urgently commissioned broader testing of the common brands you’d find in your local supermarket,” says Matt Steen, Director of Reviews and Testing at CHOICE.

“Thankfully, we can trust the most common brands available in your local supermarket.”

However, the consumer advocate says there are still major gaps in the regulation and quality control of sanitiser products and is calling for community support to expand its testing.

My hands can't tolerate alcohol. It dessicates the skin, therefore I refuse to sanitise anywhere. Pears soap - old, tried and true - is the best.

I always look at the alcohol content prior too purchase. A lot of shops etc have sanitizers for customer use and always check the alcohol content and if insufficient I advise them that it won't kill Covid.

The other issue I have found is after going in and of shops and using the sanitizers by the time i home my hands will not reach out and pick up things on the first go. I assume they are over the. 05 limit.

LOL drunken hands. 

6 comments



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