The South Korean drug safety authority ordered sales freeze and recall of 10 wet wipes manufactured by Yuhan-Kimberly Ltd for containing excessive methanol.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety said on Friday that it confirmed Yuhan-Kimberly’s 10 wet wipes – seven products under Huggies brand and three products under Green Finger brand – contain between 0.003 to 0.004 percent methanol, which exceeds permitted 0.002 percent. The 10 products are banned from sales and will be recalled.

Although the wet wipes contain ethanol exceeding the level permitted by Korean drug safety rules, they do not cause any harm to people and they were manufactured unintentionally, said the drug safety regulator. It is also leading an additional investigation to find where the excessive methanol came from while it ordered the tissue maker to freeze sales of 10 other products that may possibly contain methanol exceeding the permitted level and run an inspection.

According to the food and drug safety ministry, an adult who uses cosmetics containing 0.004 percent methanol every day is found to have no negative impact on his or her health even if the product were absorbed 100 percent into the skin.

The drug safety regulator also inspected Yuhan-Kimberly’s two other wet wipe products under Kleenex brand and confirmed they met the methanol level guideline. The wet wipes manufactured by other tissue makers were found to be containing no methanol.

Following the drug safety regulator’s recall order, Yuhan-Kimberly immediately announced that it will recall all affected products and provide a refund without a receipt and regardless of the purchase date and place. The customer can still get a refund even if the wet tissue is already opened and used, said the company. “We apologize for causing concern,” stated the company, adding that it will further strengthen its safety measures. The company speculated the excessive methanol came from a third-party raw material supplier.

For refund and recall requires, please visit www.ykbrand.co.kr/Refund/Application or call Yuhan-Kimberly’s customer service center at 080-010-3200.

By Seo Chan-dong and Lee Hee-soo

[ⓒ Pulse by Maeil Business News Korea & mk.co.kr, All rights reserved]