Reason:Coldrif Cough Syrup Banned In So Many States

Coldrif Syrup is often given to kids to help with symptoms like a runny nose, cough, sneezing, watery eyes, sore throat, body aches, and fever.

On Saturday(October 4,2025), the Madhya Pradesh government decided to suspend the sale of this cough syrup.

Additionally, Rajasthan has also seen deaths that are suspected to be connected to the cough syrup.

Reasons

The children affected are from Chhindwara in Madhya Pradesh, as well as Rajasthan and Maharashtra, while Kerala and Telangana have issued public warnings banning Coldrif syrup.

14 children died from a suspected kidney infection associated with it in Chhindwara district, Madhya Pradesh, since September 7.

The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) is gearing up to take serious action against Sresan Pharmaceuticals, the maker of Coldrif cough syrup, after reports of several children dying after using it.

As per official sources, the CDSCO plans to reach out to the Tamil Nadu Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to push for tough measures against the company.

CDSCO will contact Tamil Nadu-FDA to enforce the strictest actions against ‘Coldrif’ Syrup Manufacturer Sresan Pharmaceuticals.

Another company, Nextro DS, which also supplies cough syrups in Madhya Pradesh, is under investigation, with results from its samples still awaited.

The results for the Nextro DS syrup samples are still pending.

A total of 19 samples were collected, including syrup, antibiotics, antipyretics, and ondansetron, which were consumed by the children who became ill in Chhindwara district of Madhya Pradesh.

The cough syrup ‘Coldrif’ was found to have levels of DEG/EG exceeding permissible limits by the Tamil Nadu-FDA, and it has also been sampled for analysis by the Madhya Pradesh Drug Regulatory Authority, with final results still pending.

Madhya Pradesh government has swiftly banned the sale of Coldrif and Nextro DS syrups, along with other products from the same manufacturer. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav announced the ban on X.

The Union Health Ministry has also recommended that cough and cold medications should not be given to children under two years old.

They have reached out to the Directors of Health Services in all states and Union Territories, urging strict compliance.

Further measures against Nextro DS will be taken once the final test results are in.

Banned In Kerala

Following reports from Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan linking Coldrif to at least 11 child fatalities in the last month, Kerala has now suspended its sale and distribution.

Kerala Health Minister Veena George stated that the state’s Drugs Control Department has mandated an immediate stop to all sales of the product as a precautionary step.

The minister emphasized that the flagged batch was not distributed in Kerala, but the government decided to act “out of an abundance of caution”.

The Drugs Controller has instructed inspectors to completely halt the distribution and sale of Coldrif syrup in Kerala state.

Medical stores have also been instructed to take existing stocks off their shelves.

Diethylene Glycol (DEG) and Ethylene Glycol (EG):

Investigations have identified contamination by Diethylene Glycol (DEG) and Ethylene Glycol (EG) as the likely culprit.

These chemicals are extremely toxic industrial solvents found in products like paints, dyes, resins, plastics, antifreeze, and brake fluids, and they are not intended for use in pharmaceuticals.

Even tiny amounts can lead to kidney and liver failure, neurological issues, and even death, particularly in children.

World Health Organization(WHO)

There have been similar poisonings related to DEG that resulted in deaths around the globe – most notably in The Gambia in 2022, where 70 children lost their lives after ingesting tainted cough syrups.

Since 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) has released six global alerts concerning medical products that are contaminated with DEG/EG, estimating that over 300 children have died worldwide.

To identify such contamination, WHO suggests a two step testing method – starting with thin layer chromatography (TLC) screening for non compliance, followed by gas chromatography confirmation at certified labs or regional centers.

DISCLAIMER: This article is derived from information available in the public domain.It’s always a good idea to check your doctor before beginning any new routine.

Reasons

Banned In Kerala

World Health Organization(WHO)

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