After the deaths of at least 11 children in Madhya Pradesh, allegedly after consuming contaminated cough syrup, the Goa government’s Directorate of Food and Drugs Administration on Monday instructed all chemists, druggists, pharmacies and distributors to immediately stop sale and distribution of Coldrif Syrup manufactured by Sresan Pharmaceutical. The Directorate also asked the people to stop using the cough syrup. In a statement, it said Madhya Pradesh authorities have “informed about the tragic deaths of children in Madhya Pradesh, and that in this regard, they had drawn sample of Coldrip Syrup (Paracetamol, Phenylephrine Hydrochloride, Chlorpheniramine Maleate Syrup) Batch no. SR-13…manufactured by M/S Sresan Pharmaceutical, manufacturer no. 787, Banglore Highways, Sunguvarchathram (Mathura), Kancheepuram district, Tamil Nadu, which has been found allegedly adulterated with Diethylene Gylcol (46.28 % w/v), a toxic substance.” The notice said, “In view of this, all the chemists, druggists, pharmacies and distributors are hereby instructed to immediately stop sale/distribution of Coldrif Syrup, Batch no. SR-13, if available and report it to this Directorate without delay,” the statement said. It also requested the public to “immediately stop use of Coldrif Syrup, Batch No.SR-13. If anybody is in possession, please report it to this Directorate… The public is urged to exercise caution to prevent any further risk to life”. Between August and October, at least 11 children from Madhya Pradesh’s Chhindwara district died, allegedly after consuming contaminated cough syrup. On Saturday, the Madhya Pradesh government ordered the immediate stoppage of sales and distribution of Coldrif Syrup after a test report from the government Analyst at the Drug Testing Laboratory in Chennai said its sample was “found to be adulterated, since it contains Diethylene Glycol (48.6% w/v) which is (a) poisonous substance which may render the contents injurious to health.”
