DEG is a toxic substance used in industrial solvents and can be fatal if ingested, even in small amounts. In response, several states have taken action. “The samples were found to contain DEG beyond the permissible limit,” the ministry said in a statement issued on 6 December. The deaths occurred in the states of Chhindwara, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan.
“The sale of this syrup has been banned throughout Madhya Pradesh,” said Mohan Yadav, Chief Minister of the central state of Madhya Pradesh, where most of the deaths were reported, according to AFP news agency.
“The sale of other products from the company that manufactures the syrup is also being banned,” he added. Authorities in the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala have also banned the product, local media reported.
Cough syrups manufactured in India have come under global scrutiny in recent years, with deaths linked to their consumption reported around the world, including the deaths of more than 70 children in The Gambia in 2022.
However, the Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) has previously assured Kenyans that cough and cold medicines sold in the country are safe when taken as recommended by a qualified health professional.
The PPB stated that the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the United Kingdom’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), and the PPB itself have reviewed reports of side effects from medicines available in the Kenyan market and found them to be safe.
It, however, cautioned against purchasing over-the-counter (OTC) medicines for children under six years of age if they contain antitussives (dextromethorphan and pholcodine), expectorants (guaifenesin and ipecacuanha), nasal decongestants (ephedrine, oxymetazoline, phenylephrine, pseudoephedrine and xylometazoline), or antihistamines (brompheniramine, chlorpheniramine, diphenhydramine, doxylamine, promethazine and triprolidine).
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