(WXYZ) — The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development issued a Stop-Use and Stop-Removal Order for Vlanc+Piür hand sanitizer.
MDARD says the products do not protect the public and do not comply with the standards in the Michigan Weights and Measures Act.
The orders prohibit the sale or use of the sanitizers branded as "Formulated with 70 percent of alcohol with aloe and glycerin."
“Hand sanitizers have become one of the critical tools for preventing COVID-19. They must have a minimum of 70 percent isopropyl alcohol or 60 percent ethyl alcohol to be considered effective,” said Craig VanBuren, MDARD’s Laboratory Division Director. “Working to ensure that Michiganders are getting what they pay for is a hallmark of consumer protection. It’s especially vital right now for MDARD to be conducting marketplace sampling of hand sanitizers.”
MDARD says the hand sanitizers do not meet the labeled alcohol content, a key ingredient in effective hand sanitizer. The Vlanc+Piür brand stated it contained the 70 percent ethyl alcohol; however, MDARD testing confirmed it contained less than 60 percent, according to a press release. The department’s Weights and Measures section is also currently conducting additional sampling of various hand sanitizers to ensure they meet the minimum criteria to protect public health.
“Michiganders who have been using Vlanc+Piür brand hand sanitizer to help protect themselves from COVID-19 should monitor their health closely and seek testing if they develop symptoms of the virus,” said Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, chief medical executive and chief deputy for health. “These include signs of respiratory illness such as cough, fever and shortness of breath or other symptoms such as fatigue, headache, new loss of smell or taste, nausea or vomiting.”
The Stop-Use and Stop-Removal Orders means no Vlanc+Piür brand hand sanitizers can be sold or used in the State of Michigan effective September 11, 2020.
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