What is the active ingredient found in all FDA approved hand sanitizers?

The active ingredient found in all FDA approved hand sanitizers is alcohol. Alcohol is effective at killing a wide variety of bacteria and viruses, making it a crucial component in hand sanitizers designed for sanitizing hands when soap and water are not available. The efficacy of hand sanitizers is largely attributed to the concentration of alcohol present—typically between 60% and 95%. This concentration allows for rapid evaporation, facilitating effective germ elimination shortly after application. In the context of food safety and hygiene, using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer can help minimize the spread of foodborne illnesses, particularly in food handling environments where proper hand hygiene is vital.