WHO’s Global Alert for Toxin Contaminated Indian Cough Syrup Sold in Iraq

The WHO on Monday issued a global alert regarding a cough syrup called Cold Out being sold in Iraq. This India-made cough syrup was found to be contaminated with toxins.

In a statement, the WHO said, “The substandard batch of the product is unsafe and its use, especially in children, may result in serious injury or death.”

It is the fifth WHO warning being issued against an Indian medicine manufacturer, in the past 10 months.

Fourrts (India) Laboratories for Dabilife Pharma is the company that made the syrup. According to the Who findings, this cough syrup has contaminants higher than an acceptable limit. The batch of syrup found in the Iraqi market had 0.25% of diethylene glycol and 2.1% of ethylene glycol. The acceptable safety limit for both is up to 0.10%, the WHO said.

Last year cough syrups made by Maiden Pharmaceuticals in India were linked to the death of at least 89 children in Gambia and Uzbekistan. Toxins in a cough syrup made by Riemann Labs were linked to deaths in children in Cameroon. In March, Marion Biotech’s cough syrup caused the death of 18 children in Uzbekistan.

India mandated testing of cough syrups before exports to prevent such instances.