Contaminated cough syrup produced in India has been linked to the deaths of at least 27 children, prompting a global health warning from the World Health Organization (WHO) and regulatory action by Indian authorities.
The WHO issued its alert on October 15, 2025, specifically warning against three brands of cough syrup. These included “Coldrif” manufactured by Sresan Pharmaceutical, “Respifresh TR” by Rednex Pharmaceuticals, and “ReLife” by Shape Pharma. The global health agency stated these contaminated products posed a serious risk of severe illness and potential death.
The primary contaminant identified in the syrups was diethylene glycol, a toxic industrial solvent. Tests on the “Coldrif” brand revealed alarmingly high levels, exceeding 45% of the toxic substance.
Twenty-four deaths were confirmed in India’s central Madhya Pradesh state, with an additional three in the western state of Rajasthan. The victims were predominantly children under the age of five. They succumbed to kidney failure, suspected to be complications arising from consuming “Coldrif” in September 2025.
Following the detection of contamination in “Coldrif,” authorities in India’s Tamil Nadu state revoked Sresan Pharmaceutical’s manufacturing license. Operations for the company were suspended on Monday, October 13, 2025.
The WHO advised healthcare professionals to report any detection of these substandard medicines or any unexpected adverse effects to national regulatory bodies or pharmacovigilance centers.