On Monday, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued a health alert warning that three cough syrups manufactured in India have been found to contain dangerously high levels of a toxic chemical. The agency urged health authorities worldwide to remain vigilant and to report any detection of these products.
The affected syrups are Coldrif (by Sresan Pharmaceutical), Respifresh TR (Rednex Pharmaceuticals), and ReLife (Shape Pharma). Laboratory testing revealed that some batches contained diethylene glycol (DEG) at levels nearly 500 times above permissible limits—raising serious concerns over their safety.
The warning follows the tragic deaths of young children in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. In Chhindwara district, multiple children under the age of five reportedly developed acute kidney failure after consuming one of the implicated syrups.
India’s Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) has confirmed that none of the contaminated batches were exported officially. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has similarly stated that it has no evidence that these syrups reached American markets. Nonetheless, WHO warned of the potential risk of illicit exports via unregulated channels.
In the wake of the alert, Indian authorities have taken swift action. The owner of Sresan Pharmaceuticals was arrested, and law-enforcement raids have been launched at several manufacturing and distribution sites connected to the company. States have banned the sale of the implicated syrups, and drug inspectors are seizing stocks and conducting tests. Meanwhile, India’s health ministry has also issued guidance advising against the prescribing or dispensing of cough and cold medicines to children under two years of age.
Experts say this incident underscores deeper flaws in pharmaceutical regulation and monitoring—especially in domestic markets. Past episodes of contaminated syrups have resulted in child fatalities in several countries, prompting repeated calls for stricter oversight.
The WHO alert serves as a stark reminder for global regulators, medicine suppliers, and caregivers to exercise heightened caution, especially in checking drug sources and monitoring adverse events.
