The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a medical product alert after detecting contamination in three oral liquid medicines in India, commonly used to treat cold, flu, and cough symptoms. The alert, released on October 8, 2025, follows reports from India’s Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) confirming the presence of the toxic chemical Diethylene Glycol (DEG) in the affected products.
According to WHO, the contaminated medicines, COLDRIF, Respifresh TR, and ReLife, were manufactured by Sresan Pharmaceutical, Rednex Pharmaceuticals, and Shape Pharma. These products were reportedly consumed by children who later suffered from acute illnesses, with some fatalities reported in localized clusters across India.
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DEG is a toxic substance that can cause severe kidney and neurological damage when ingested, and has been linked to multiple cases of poisoning in past international incidents involving contaminated syrups.
Following the discovery, Indian authorities acted swiftly to halt production at the implicated manufacturing sites and suspended the product authorizations. A nationwide recall of the contaminated batches is currently underway, coordinated by relevant state authorities.
The CDSCO also informed WHO that there is no evidence of export of these contaminated medicines outside India. However, WHO has urged all National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs) to conduct targeted market surveillance, especially in informal or unregulated markets where such products might circulate unnoticed. The organization has also advised close scrutiny of any oral liquid medicines produced by the same manufacturers since December 2024.
WHO and Indian health authorities are now working jointly to trace the source of contamination and prevent further risk to public health. The identified products have been officially classified as substandard, as they fail to meet established quality and safety standards.
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This latest alert highlights the ongoing global concern over pharmaceutical quality control, particularly in the production of pediatric oral liquid formulations. WHO continues to monitor the situation closely to mitigate any broader health threats.
