FDA warns about tainted hand sanitizers

FDA warns consumers in Puerto Rico that two hand sanitizer products - Bee-Shield Hand Sanitizer and MD Quality Hand Sanitizer, both made with aloe vera and packaged in 10-oz. bottles - "contain high levels of bacteria." The bacteria, burkholderia cepacia, "can cause serious infections in humans," the agency warns in a March 3 alert. Puerto Rico Beverage Inc. of Maunabo manufactures the products, which were distributed only in Puerto Rico by Lord Pharmaceuticals, Bee International Distributors and Morales Distributors. FDA says its inspection of a Puerto Rico Beverage facility turned up "serious" good manufacturing practice problems. While no serious adverse events have been reported to the agency, FDA directs consumers not to use the products and to dispose of them