The World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations’ global health security agency, has issued a warning on 3 cough syrups from India. These cough syrups are made for children aged 1 to 5 years.
These three cough syrups are Coldref made by Indian drug manufacturer Shresan Pharmaceuticals, Syrup Respifresh TR made by Rednex Pharmaceuticals and Syrup Relife made by Shape Pharma.
The WHO has issued this warning due to the unusual presence of a chemical called diethylene glycol in these syrups. Diethylene glycol is an essential chemical for making cough syrups for children, but if diethylene glycol is used in a syrup in excess of the permitted or specified level, it becomes a real poison. The World Health Organization’s warning states that the presence of diethylene glycol in these three cough syrups is 500 times more than the permitted or specified level.
