Tuesday 8 August 2023

The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued an alert for an India-made cough syrup that was sold in Iraq. The syrup, called Cold Out, was found to be contaminated with diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol, which are toxic chemicals that can cause serious injury or death, especially in children.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued an alert for an India-made cough syrup that was sold in Iraq. The syrup, called Cold Out, was found to be contaminated with diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol, which are toxic chemicals that can cause serious injury or death, especially in children.

The WHO alert was issued after a sample of the syrup was obtained from Iraq and tested by a laboratory. The sample was found to contain 0.25% diethylene glycol and 2.1% ethylene glycol. The acceptable safety limit for both of these contaminants is 0.10%.

The WHO is warning people not to use the contaminated Cold Out syrup. If you have already used the syrup and are experiencing any of the following symptoms, you should seek medical attention immediately:

  • Abdominal pain
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Headache
  • Altered mental state
  • Inability to pass urine
  • Acute kidney injury
  • Death

The contaminated Cold Out syrup was manufactured by Fourrts Laboratories in Chennai, India. It was distributed in Iraq by Dabilife Pharma Pvt Ltd.

This is the fifth time in the past 10 months that the WHO has issued an alert for an India-made drug that was found to be contaminated. In previous cases, the contaminated drugs have been linked to the deaths of children in Gambia, Uzbekistan, and Cameroon.

The WHO is urging countries to take steps to prevent the distribution and sale of contaminated drugs. It is also calling on drug manufacturers to ensure that their products are safe and meet international quality standards.

Here are some tips for avoiding contaminated drugs:

  • Buy your drugs from reputable sources.
  • Check the expiration date on the drug.
  • Do not take drugs that have been tampered with.
  • Report any suspected contaminated drugs to the authorities.

It is important to be aware of the risks of contaminated drugs and to take steps to protect yourself and your family.

Yes, the World Health Organization (WHO) has issued an alert for an India-made cough syrup that was sold in Iraq. The syrup, called Cold Out, was found to be contaminated with diethylene glycol (DEG) and ethylene glycol (EG). These chemicals are toxic to humans and can cause serious health problems, including kidney failure and death.

The WHO alert said that the substandard batch of Cold Out syrup is unsafe and its use, especially in children, may result in serious injury or death. The alert also said that the syrup should be recalled from the market and that people who have already taken it should seek medical attention if they experience any of the following symptoms:

  • Abdominal pain
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Headache
  • Altered mental state
  • Inability to pass urine
  • Acute kidney injury

The contaminated Cold Out syrup was manufactured by Fourrts Laboratories in Chennai, India. The syrup was exported to Iraq by Dabilife Pharma Pvt Ltd, a pharmaceutical company based in Maharashtra, India.

This is the fifth time in the past 10 months that the WHO has issued an alert for a substandard drug manufactured in India. In 2023, the WHO also issued alerts for four other Indian-made cough syrups:

  • Promethazine Oral Solution
  • Kofexmalin Baby Cough syrup
  • Makeoff Baby Cough syrup
  • Magrip N Cold syrup

These alerts have raised concerns about the quality of drugs manufactured in India. The Indian government has said that it is taking steps to improve the quality of drugs in the country, but it is unclear how long it will take to address the problem.

In the meantime, consumers should be aware of the risks of taking substandard drugs and should only purchase drugs from trusted sources. If you have any concerns about a drug that you have taken, you should speak to a doctor.


Yes, the World Health Organization (WHO) has issued an alert for an India-made cough syrup that was sold in Iraq. The syrup, called Cold Out, was found to be contaminated with diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol, which are toxic chemicals that can cause serious health problems, including death.

The WHO alert was issued on August 1, 2023, after a sample of the syrup was found to contain unacceptable levels of the contaminants. The affected batch of the syrup was manufactured by Fourrts Laboratories in Chennai, India, and was distributed in Iraq by Dabilife Pharma.

The WHO is warning people not to use the contaminated syrup, especially children. The contaminants can cause a variety of symptoms, including abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, altered mental state, and acute kidney injury. In severe cases, they can lead to death.

The WHO is also calling on governments and health authorities to take steps to remove the contaminated syrup from the market and to investigate how it came to be contaminated. This is the fifth time in the past 10 months that the WHO has issued an alert for a substandard or contaminated drug that was manufactured in India.

The four other drugs that were the subject of WHO alerts were:

  • Promethazine Oral Solution
  • Kofexmalin Baby Cough syrup
  • Makeoff Baby Cough syrup
  • Magrip N Cold syrup

These drugs were all found to contain toxic chemicals or other contaminants that could cause serious health problems. The WHO is urging governments and health authorities to take steps to remove these drugs from the market and to investigate how they came to be contaminated.

The WHO's alerts are a serious concern for the pharmaceutical industry in India. The country is a major exporter of generic drugs, and these alerts could damage India's reputation as a reliable supplier of safe and effective medicines. The Indian government is investigating the matter and has promised to take action against those responsible for the contamination.

In the meantime, consumers should be aware of the risks of using substandard or contaminated drugs. If you have any concerns about a drug that you are taking, you should talk to your doctor.


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