FDA issues alert on hand sanitizer
The Food and Drug Administration placed an "import alert" on hand sanitizer products imported from Mexico because of a sharp increase in the number of those products testing positive for methanol, the agency's officials said.
Methanol, or wood alcohol, is toxic to humans. It can cause permanent blindness or be life-threatening if ingested.
Shipments of such products from Mexico will be subject to heightened scrutiny. It's the first time the FDA has issued such a countrywide alert, a news release said.
FDA officials became aware of the problem as Americans began using more hand sanitizer as a substitute for soap amid the pandemic. Chemical tests showed many sanitizers from Mexico had high levels of the toxic substance.
Children and people with alcohol dependency, who may try to drink the methanol-tainted products as a substitute for alcohol, are most at risk, the agency said.
UAMS to put $1M into institute push
The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences has received a $1 million donation to support its drive for National Cancer Institute-designated status, a news release said.
Larry Crain Sr. made the donation to the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute in honor of his late wife, who died of cancer.
UAMS officials will rename a garden at the cancer center the "Janett Crain Seed of Hope Garden" in appreciation of the gift, according to the release.
The gift also honors Crain's caregivers and the donor's sister-in-law, who survived lung cancer.
National Cancer Institute status offers funding and allows patients access to clinical trials. If received, UAMS would be the facility in Arkansas with the designation.
3 lawmakers back group funds ban
Three members of the Arkansas delegation are original co-sponsors of a bill meant to place a moratorium on federal funding to Planned Parenthood Federation of America.
U.S. Reps. Steve Womack, Rick Crawford and French Hill signed on to support the proposed legislation, which was introduced last week.
They are among 119 House Republicans sponsoring the bill. No Democrats or Independents had indicated their support as of Friday.
The full text for H.R. 541 was not immediately available.