WHO warns against Indian cough syrup

The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a medical product alert for three contaminated cough syrups identified in India, warning they pose serious health risks to children. The alert, released on Monday, urges Indian authorities to report any new findings related to the syrups.

The three syrups in question are:

*Coldrif, manufactured by Sresan Pharmaceuticals,

*RespiFresh TR, by Rednex Pharmaceuticals, and

*Relief Syrup, produced by Shape Pharma.

These products are intended for children aged 1 to 5 years and are reportedly distributed widely in the domestic market.

According to WHO, the syrups were found to contain toxic levels of diethylene glycol (DEG)—a harmful industrial chemical used in antifreeze and not approved for use in medications. Laboratory tests revealed DEG concentrations nearly 500 times the permissible limit.

The Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) of India informed WHO that several children who consumed the syrups—particularly in Madhya Pradesh’s Chhindwara district—developed adverse reactions. At least nine children under the age of five are suspected to have died due to DEG poisoning since late August, primarily in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, AFP reports.

India's Ministry of Health confirmed in a statement on Saturday that laboratory analysis detected excessive DEG levels in the samples consumed by the affected children.

While Indian authorities maintain that these syrups were only sold domestically, and no evidence of export or illegal distribution has been found, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confirmed on Friday that the contaminated syrups were not imported into the U.S. Nonetheless, the agency remains vigilant.

Before WHO's formal alert, at least three Indian states had already banned the sale and use of the identified syrup.

This incident adds to growing international scrutiny over the safety of Indian-made pharmaceuticals. In 2022, cough syrups made by another Indian manufacturer were linked to the deaths of over 70 children in The Gambia, sparking global concern over India’s drug quality control practices.