Coronavirus: Shoppers warned of ‘fake’ hand sanitiser

Fife Council’s Trading Standards service highlighted that sanitiser is being marketed in plain or unmarked bottles.

Jenness Mitchell

18th Mar 2020

A local authority is warning shoppers to be wary of ‘fake’ hand sanitiser amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Fife Council’s Trading Standards service highlighted that due to the recent shortages a number of posts on social media are offering sanitiser in plain or unmarked bottles, and “sometimes at inflated prices”.

As hand sanitiser is legally classed as a cosmetic product it is subject to a number of stringent ingredients testing and labelling requirements.

The council is warning potential buyers that they could suffer allergic reactions if they are unaware of all the ingredients.

Thread: (1/4) We are aware that, due to the recent shortages of hand sanitiser, a number of posts on social media are offering sanitiser in plain or unmarked bottles, sometimes at inflated prices.
— FifeTradingStandards (@FifeTS) March 18, 2020

A spokesperson said: “So we would therefore urge the public not to buy any cosmetic products in unlabelled or plain bottles/containers as you will have no idea of the contents.”

Traders are also being warned not to decant from large bottles into unlabelled smaller ones.

The spokesperson added: “Retailers should be mindful that many customers cannot afford such highly inflated prices and so should carefully consider their trading practices at this difficult time.”