Expert: Walter Hintz - 5/9/2006

Question
Hi,
I hope I'm finding you in the best of health.
I saw places like Crabtree&Evelyn sell antibacterial gels that you can use
without water. You just put it on your hands on rub it in. It says on the bottle
if the gel goes in your mouth, contact poison center immediately. My question
is:If it's poisonous for the mouth, then once you apply it to your skin and eat
something, you still have it on your hands and may eat some of it[why would the
gel be leaving anywhere.It would stay on your hands].Why isn't it poisonous
now(after you apply it to your skin)?Is this type of product safe?How does it
work?Thank you.

Answer
Hi Jeff;  I do not know anything about this product but personally I would avoid using anything with such a warning label even though I suspect that the stuff is not as dangerous as the label implies and the manufacturers and covering their butts from lawsuits should sombody eat the gel.
 Besides antibacterial solutions and gels have been shown to be basically innefective anyway.  Soap and water works best.  That is what surgeons use before they operate.