Days after the deaths of children in Madhya Pradesh allegedly linked to contaminated cough syrups, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has raised a medical alert regarding three syrups found to contain higher than permissible levels of diethylene glycol (DEG).
The alert comes after WHO sought clarification from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), India’s apex drug regulator, on whether the contaminated medicines had been exported. WHO was informed that these medicines were not intended for export, and there was no evidence of illegal export.
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Details of contaminated syrups
“On 8 October, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) of India reported to WHO the presence of Diethylene Glycol (DEG) in at least three oral liquid medicines. This followed information identified by WHO on 30 September 2025 of localised clusters of acute illness and child fatalities in India,” the alert said.
The three contaminated syrups include:
Coldrif by Tamil Nadu-based Sresen Pharmaceutical, which contained 48.6 per cent DEG (only 0.1 per cent is permissible).
Respifresh by Gujarat-based Rednex Pharmaceutical, which contained 1.3 per cent DEG.
ReLife syrup by Shape Pharma, which contained 0.6 per cent DEG.
Also Read: Centre issues advisory to states after child illness cases linked to cough syrup use
This marks the fifth medical alert issued by WHO for syrups made in India since 2022, following incidents including the death of at least 70 children in Gambia. Investigations so far have not linked the deaths in Gambia to the Indian cough syrups.
Both ethylene glycol and diethylene glycol can enter syrups through a permitted solvent called polyethylene glycol. While pharmaceutical-grade polyethylene glycol must have DEG strictly below permissible limits, industrial-grade variants may contain higher levels. The compound also has industrial uses as an antifreeze, heat transfer fluid, and emulsifier.
