A report from the World Health Organization (WHO) highlighted concerns about the quality of medicines being produced in India. The WHO reported that a batch of Cold Out syrup, manufactured by Fourts India Ltd. for Dabilife Pharma, was found to have higher than acceptable levels of contaminants, specifically diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol. The diethylene glycol content was measured at 0.25%, while the ethylene glycol content was 2.1%, both exceeding the safety limit of 0.10%.
The manufacturer and marketing company of Cold Out syrup did not provide the necessary safety and quality assurances to the WHO. This incident follows a recent warning by the WHO regarding tainted cough syrups that have been exported globally. Notably, over half of the investigated syrups were manufactured in India.
As reported by Outlook, last year, the deaths of eighty-nine children in Gambia and Uzbekistan were linked to the consumption of cough syrups produced in India. Indian authorities identified violations at Riemann Labs, which were associated with the deaths of children in Cameroon. In response, Marion Biotech, the company that exported the syrups to Uzbekistan, had its manufacturing license revoked by Indian authorities, leading to the arrest of several employees. On the other hand, Maiden Pharmaceuticals, which was involved in supplying the cough syrup to Gambia, denied any responsibility for the deaths. Additionally, tests conducted in an Indian government laboratory did not detect any toxins in the cough syrup.
