Valisure tested 260 hand sanitizer products and found 44 batches (17%) contained benzene, according to a news release shared on its website Wednesday (March 24.)

Benzene is recognized by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the World Health Organization (WHO) and other agencies to cause cancer in humans.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) states benzene should not be used in any drug product due to its toxicity.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, hand sanitizer was in high demand, and the FDA allowed an interim limit of 2 parts per million (ppm) for benzene in liquid hand sanitizers.

Valisure is now asking the FDA to request an immediate recall on the contaminated batches and update its guidance to include an exposure limit for benzene, as well as a concentration.