Warning

1995-78
November 17, 1995

Warning against Nail Polish Removers Containing Methanol

OTTAWA - The Health Protection Branch (HPB) of Health Canada is warning consumers across Canada to keep certain brands of non-acetone nail polish remover containing methanol away from children.

This non-acetone nail polish remover could lead to accidental poisonings because it was not packaged in child resistant containers. The nail polish remover identified to date is sold under these brand names: ZELLERS, LAURIVAL, PERSONNELLE (Jean Coutu), ANNABELLE, CAROLINE, MERIT, and CUMBERLAND.

During the past eighteen months, three young children were poisoned after inadvertently ingesting nail polish removers containing methanol. Two of these poisonings were in Nova Scotia and one was in British Columbia. If ingested, methanol can cause blindness and, in some cases, even death. None of these incidents in Canada resulted in either blindness or death.

Consumers are strongly advised to store and use all nail polish removers so that young children do not have access to them.

A recall has been voluntarily initiated by the manufacturer and major distributors and will continue to be monitored by HPB.

Information:
Bonnie Fox-McIntyre/Monique Renaud-Gagné
Health Canada
(613) 957-1588