Stop using now Drug recall · FDA · Published July 23, 2020

Scent Theory Hand Sanitizer Recall: Low Ethanol Content and Methanol Risk

Scent Theory recalls 70% alcohol hand sanitizer bottles made in Mexico with low ethanol and methanol. Products may cause health issues if used. Return or stop using immediately.

Plain-English summary generated from official FDA data by GovInfoNow · Published by Carlos Caban · How we make summaries

🇺🇸 FDA recall #D-1580-2020Drug Scent Theory ›

Stop using this now

CGMP Deviations: Born Basic Anti Bac was found to be below the label claim for ethanol content and contained methanol. Other products were recalled because they were manufactured in the same facility as the product found to contain methanol.

Take action

Contact the company

Recalling firmReal Clean Distribuciones SA de CVRecursos Petroleros, Fracc Industrial La Loma 3; Tlalnepantla De Baz · Tlalnepantla De Baz, Mexico

✎ GovInfoNow plain-language explainer

Scent Theory is recalling hand sanitizer bottles that contain less ethanol than labeled and have methanol. This poses a health risk, especially for people with sensitive skin or who use the product frequently. Read more at govinfonow.com/recall/36913-scent-theory-hand-sanitizer-recall-low-ethanol-content-and-methanol.

Source Summary by GovInfoNow · govinfonow.com/recall/36913-scent-theory-hand-sanitizer-recall-low-ethanol-content-and-methanol · Updated October 5, 2026 · FDA enforcement record: FDA #D-1580-2020

Cite this page

“Scent Theory Hand Sanitizer Recall: Low Ethanol Content and Methanol Risk.” GovInfoNow, updated October 5, 2026. https://govinfonow.com/recall/36913-scent-theory-hand-sanitizer-recall-low-ethanol-content-and-methanol. Based on FDA recall #D-1580-2020 (https://api.fda.gov/drug/enforcement.json?search=recall_number:%22D-1580-2020%22&limit=1).

The FDA announced on July 23, 2020, that Real Clean Distribuciones SA de CV voluntarily recalled Scent Theory KEEP CLEAN Moisturizing Hand Sanitizer due to CGMP deviations involving methanol presence and insufficient ethanol content. The agency classified the recall as Class II.

How to tell if you have it

Brand: Scent Theory
Product: KEEP CLEAN Moisturizing Hand Sanitizer, 70% alcohol (Ethyl Alcohol 70%), 16.9 FL OZ/500 mL bottle
UPC: 8 40038 21434 1
Lots: 1633220, 1733220, 1833220, 1933220, 2033220, 2133220, 2233220, 2333220, 2433220, 2533220, 2633220, 2733220, 2833220, 2933220, 3033220, 3133220, 3233220, 3333220, 3433220, 3533220, 3633220, 3733220, 3833220, 3933220, 4033220, 4133220
Distribution: Nationwide in the USA

The hazard

The FDA stated that Born Basic Anti Bac was found to be below the label claim for ethanol content and contained methanol. Other products were recalled because they were manufactured in the same facility as the product found to contain methanol.

Context

GovInfoNow's records show other recent recalls of similar products include Zep Alcohol Sanitizer Spray (2026-05-22), Haleon Gas-X Extra Strength Softgels (2026-06-04), and American Regent ACETYLCYSTEINE Solution (2026-07-24).

How to tell if you have this one

Check for the product name 'Scent Theory KEEP CLEAN Moisturizing Hand Sanitizer', 16.9 fl oz/500 mL bottle, made in Mexico with lot numbers listed in the recall notice.

Brand
Scent Theory
Product
scent theory KEEP CLEAN Moisturizing Hand Sanitizer, 70% alcohol (Ethyl Alcohol 70%), 16.9 FL OZ/500 mL bottle
Category
Drug

FDA recall event · 5 products

All 5 products in this recall

FDA lists each product line separately under one recall event. Check your product description, lot or code numbers against each row. Every row shares the hazard and remedy on this page.

Status
Terminated
Distribution
Distributed Nationwide in the USA

Recall number	Product, codes & lots	Quantity	Class
D-1579-2020	scent theory KEEP IT CLEAN, pure clean,(Ethyl Alcohol 70%), 16.9 FL OZ/500 mL, Distributed by Scent Theory Products, LLC New York, NY 10018, Made in Mexico, UPC 8 40038 21434 1; Lots: 0133220, 0233220, 0333220, 0433220, 0533220, 0633220, 0733220, 0833220, 0933220, 1033220 1133220, 1233220, 1333220, 1433220, 1533220	504,000 pieces	Class II
D-1580-2020	scent theory KEEP CLEAN Moisturizing Hand Sanitizer, 70% alcohol (Ethyl Alcohol 70%), 16.9 FL OZ/500 mL bottle, Distributed by Scent Theory Products, LLC New York, NY 10018. Made in Mexico, UPC 8 40038 21434 1; Lots: 1633220, 1733220, 1833220, 1933220, 2033220, 2133220, 2233220, 2333220, 2433220, 2533220, 2633220, 2733220, 2833220, 2933220, 3033220, 3133220, 3233220, 3333220, 3433220, 3533220, 3633220, 3733220, 3833220, 3933220, 4033220, 4133220	917,280 bottles	Class II
D-1581-2020	BORN BASIC., ANTI-BAC HAND SANITIZER, 70% Alcohol, (Ethyl Alcohol 70%), packaged as a) 9.5 FL OZ (280 mL) bottle, UPC 8 40038 21462 4: b) 16.9 FL OZ (500 mL) bottle, UPC 8 40038 21456 3; and c) 34 FL OZ (1L) bottle, UPC 8 40038 21447 1; Made in Mexico; Distributed by Scent Theory Products, LLC, New York, NY 10018.; Lots: a) 0133720, 0233720 b) 0833420, 0933420, 1333420, 1433420, 1533420, 1633420, 1733420, 1833420, 1933420, 2033420, 2133420, 2633420, 2733420, 2833420, 2933420 c) 0133420, 0233420, 0333420, 0433420, 0533420, 0633420	975,720 bottles	Class II
D-1582-2020	LUX EOI Hand Sanitizing Gel, (Ethyl Alcohol 70%), (16.9 FL OZ) 500mL bottle, Distributed by: Procurement Services, LLC Nashville, TN 37215, Product of Mexico. NDC 74882-007-02; Lots: 0133920, 0233920, 0333920	90,288 bottles	Class II
D-1583-2020	BORN BASIC., ANTI-BAC HAND SANITIZER, 70% Alcohol, (Ethyl Alcohol 70%), 16.9 FL OZ (500 mL) bottle, UPC 8 40038 21456 3, Made in Mexico; Distributed by Scent Theory Products, LLC, New York, NY 10018.; Lots: 1033420, 1133420, 1233420, 2233420, 2333420, 2433420, 2533420	N/A	Class I

Based on the official FDA remedy

What to do — step by step

Stop Using Now
Immediately stop using the recalled hand sanitizer as it contains methanol which can cause health issues.

Where it went and when

Where it was distributed

Distributed nationwide.

FDA distribution: “Distributed Nationwide in the USA” States read from FDA’s own wording; “not listed” means the notice does not name it.

Distributed nationwide.

Recall timeline

FDA terminated this recall 22 months after the firm started it.

Jul 23, 2020Firm started the recall
Sep 11, 2020FDA classified it Class II
Sep 23, 2020Published in FDA’s Enforcement Report
May 27, 2022FDA terminated the recall

Dates from the agency record only; steps without a date are left out.

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Link to this recall

<a href="https://govinfonow.com/recall/36913-scent-theory-hand-sanitizer-recall-low-ethanol-content-and-methanol">Scent Theory Hand Sanitizer Recall: Low Ethanol Content and Methanol Risk (GovInfoNow)</a>

Where this comes from

The facts (hazard, remedy, dates, manufacturer) are pulled from the official FDA recall record. The plain-language summary and step-by-step checklist are written by GovInfoNow to make the official notice easier to act on — they don’t replace it.

Official source: FDA Recall #D-1580-2020 (July 23, 2020) — FDA publishes no per-recall page; this is the official machine-readable enforcement record. Search FDA recalls for D-1580-2020 to see it in context.
Plain-language summary written by qwen3:4b on October 5, 2026, from the official record above. Not reviewed by a person — if it conflicts with the FDA notice, the notice is correct. Report an error on this page.
GovInfoNow is an independent service and is not a government agency. We republish official FDA recall data; we don’t issue, amend or administer recalls.