WHO tags India-made cough syrup 'unsafe'

A batch of India-made common cold syrup Cold Out was flagged by the World Health Organization. The agency said the tested product was unsafe to use and “may result in serious injury or death.”

The syrup, which was obtained from Iraq for testing, had unacceptable amounts of contaminants, the WHO said. While the upper limit has been set at 0.10%, ethylene glycol was found at 2.1% and diethylene glycol at 0.25%.

The United Nations agency said the syrup was manufactured by Chennai based Fourrts Laboratories. The press release also highlighted the health risks associated with the tested batch.

It said, “Toxic effects can include abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, inability to pass urine, headache, altered mental state and acute kidney injury which may lead to death.”

The health agency also recommended caution and increased vigilance while using the product in general.

This is not the first time the World Health Organization has warned against an Indian-made cough syrup. A similar contamination problem was noted with Guaifenesin TG syrup, which was produced by a Punjab-based manufacturer.

Also Watch: Drinking kombucha might help reduce blood sugar levels, study