GOJO Industries, the maker of Purell, is facing a class action lawsuit filed by consumers who say the company misled them to believe that Purell hand sanitizer could prevent viruses, including the flu. According to the complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, the plaintiff hopes to “stop the Defendant’s deceptive practices and undo the harm that it has caused to consumers in California and across the country.”
![purell]()
In the company’s Frequently Asked Questions section, it stated that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends alcohol-based hand sanitizer as a preventative measure to help avoid viruses such as the flu, norovirus and Ebola. The complaint states, “These statements, made in the context of the Frequently Asked Questions section, clearly indicate your suggestion that PURELL® Healthcare Advanced Hand Sanitizers are intended for reducing or preventing disease from the Ebola virus, norovirus, and influenza. As such, the statements are evidence of your products’ intended uses.”
Purell’s claims aside, if you are still under the impression hand sanitizer is as good or better for you than regular handwashing with soap and water, it's time to get educated. Many hand sanitizers contain rubbing alcohol as the active bactericidal ingredient, which may dry your skin. Even worse is an ingredient called triclosan, which has been shown to not only contribute to the development of bacterial resistance, but it also increases the amount of bisphenol-A (BPA) you absorb when handling thermal receipt paper or other BPA-containing products.
Your best option for maintaining clean hands is to use a mild soap and water. As much as you can, avoid using antibacterial soap because it contributes to the growing problem of antibiotic resistance. If you really must use hand sanitizer, you'd be better off making your own. Check out the video in this article to learn how to make your own natural hand sanitizer.