Multiple Indian States Ban Cough Syrup Linked to Child Deaths
Authorities in at least three Indian states have banned a cough syrup after the deaths of several young children, raising safety concerns.
At least nine children under the age of five have died since late August in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan after consuming the medicine they were prescribed. Laboratory tests by India’s health ministry revealed that the syrup contained diethylene glycol (DEG), a toxic industrial solvent that can be deadly even in small amounts.
“The samples were found to contain DEG beyond the permissible limit,” the ministry said in a statement.
The product, sold under the brand name Coldrif Cough Syrup, is manufactured by Sresan Pharma at a facility in Tamil Nadu.
Mohan Yadav, Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, confirmed that the sale of the syrup has been banned across the state. Other products from the same manufacturer are also prohibited. Authorities in Tamil Nadu and Kerala have issued similar bans.
Indian-made cough syrups have faced international scrutiny in recent years, with contaminated products linked to child fatalities worldwide, including over 70 deaths in The Gambia in 2022.
