WHO Flags Three Toxic India-Made Syrups — Coldrif Linked to Child Deaths in Madhya Pradesh

The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised a serious alert over three contaminated syrups manufactured in India, including Coldrif, which has been linked to multiple child deaths in Madhya Pradesh.The health body identified the toxic products as Coldrif (Sresan Pharmaceuticals), Respifresh TR (Rednex Pharmaceuticals), and ReLife (Shape Pharma), warning that these could cause severe, life-threatening illnesses.

Lab reports revealed that Coldrif syrup, made in Tamil Nadu, contained dangerously high levels of diethylene glycol (DEG) — nearly 48%, far exceeding the safe limit of 0.1%. This chemical is known to cause kidney and nervous system damage, particularly in children.Following the findings, Sresan Pharmaceuticals’ manufacturing license was revoked, and its owner G. Ranganathan was arrested. Authorities have since launched a statewide inspection of drug manufacturing units to identify any other possible quality violations.In response to the tragedy, the Central government issued an advisory urging medical professionals to avoid prescribing cough syrups for children below two years, and to use extreme caution for those under five.

Health experts stress that this incident is a wake-up call for the Indian pharmaceutical sector — highlighting the need for stricter quality checks and global accountability to prevent such devastating outcomes.