Experts: Some hand sanitizers sold locally don’t kill germs

Compiled by C. Aruno and Hanis Zainal

A CHECK by several chemistry and biotechnology experts found that some hand sanitisers sold in the country did not contain active properties to kill germs, reported Berita Harian.

“They are exploiting the situation by selling products that are not up to standards (set by the government), ” said UiTM Faculty of Applied Sciences senior lecturer Dr Ismaniza Ismail.

“What’s worrying is that these sellers are putting consumers’ health at risk, ” she said.

She said that hand sanitisers should contain at least 60% alcohol for it to work.

Another senior lecturer of UiTM, Dr Siti Aimi Sarah Zainal Abidin, said the National Fatwa Council had stated that the use of alcohol in hand sanitisers was a must (harus).

“We don’t want certain quarters to misuse religion to gain profit, especially when it puts the public at risk, ” she explained.

Source: The Star. 2020. Experts: Some hand sanitisers sold locally don’t kill germs. [Online] Accessed 20 May 2020. Available from www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2020/05/13/experts-some-hand-sanitisers-sold-locally-dont-kill-germs