Toxic cough syrups trigger WHO warning: India under scrutiny

The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a health advisory concerning three contaminated cough syrups from India, urging authorities to report any detections due to significant health risks, including severe illness or death,a local news media reported.

The syrups in question are specific batches of Coldrif from Sresan Pharmaceutical, Respifresh TR from Rednex Pharmaceuticals, and ReLife from Shape Pharma. Alarmingly, these products contained toxic diethylene glycol at nearly 500 times the permissible limit.

Tragically, these contaminated syrups have been linked to the deaths of young children in Madhya Pradesh’s Chhindwara district, all under the age of five. In light of these incidents, India’s Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) notified the WHO.

Importantly, CDSCO clarified that none of the contaminated syrups have been exported from India, and there is no evidence of illegal exports. Additionally, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration confirmed on Friday that these toxic cough syrups had not been shipped to the United States.