Coldrif Cough Syrup 'Contains DEG Beyond Permissible Limit'; TN, MP, Kerala Government Impose Blanket Ban
Union Health Ministry has issued an advisory directing that cough and cold medications should not be prescribed to children under the age of two years.
Published : October 4, 2025 at 9:19 AM IST
|Updated : October 4, 2025 at 6:09 PM IST
New Delhi: Amid concerns over the death of children in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan allegedly after consumption of cough syrups, the Union Health Ministry on Saturday revealed that the Coldrif cough syrup manufactured by M/s Sresan Pharma at Kanchipuram in Tamil Nadu was found to contain Diethylene Glycol (DEG) beyond the permissible limits. The DEG or Ethylene Glycol (EG) contaminants are known to cause serious kidney injury, officials said.
The development assumes significance following reports that child deaths in Madhya Pradesh were linked to the consumption of cough syrups.
The Health Ministry on Saturday said that on the request of the Madhya Pradesh government, Tamil Nadu Food Safety and Drug Administration (FDA) had taken samples of Coldrif cough syrup from the manufacturing premises of M/s Sresan Pharma in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu.
"The results of testing of these samples were shared with us late evening, yesterday, 3rd October 2025. The samples are found to contain DEG beyond the permissible limit," the Ministry said.
On the other hand, it was informed that a total of six samples collected by CDSCO from Madhya Pradesh were found to be free from DEG/EG during testing. Simultaneously, MPFDA informed that out of 13 samples collected by their team, three were examined which were found to be free from DEG/EG.
Moreover, risk based inspection was initiated on Friday at the manufacturing premises of all the 19 drugs sampled, spread across six states. "This will help find the gaps leading to quality failure of drug samples and suggest process improvement to avoid such incidents in future," the Ministry said.
Blanket Ban In Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh and Kerala
Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh and Kerala governments imposed a blanket ban on the sale of cough syrup 'Coldrif' and ordered its removal from the market in view of the suspicions linking it to the death of 11 children in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav stated that, along with Coldrif, sale of other medicines made by the concerned company is also being stopped. The decision came after the state government received an investigation report from Tamil Nadu, where the syrup's manufacturing unit is located. "After learning about the incident, we had requested the Tamil Nadu government to conduct a probe. The report was received this morning, and strict action has been taken based on it," CM Yadav said.
The Chief Minister described the deaths of children in Chhindwara (Madhya Pradesh) as "extremely saddening" and assured that those responsible would not be spared. A special team has been formed to investigate the case at the state level, and action is being taken locally as well, he added.
State Health Minister Vishwas Sarang said that the ban was enforced following the Chief Minister's instructions immediately after the investigation findings were received. "Any medicines that show adverse effects on patients will not be allowed for sale in Madhya Pradesh. Strict action will be taken against those responsible," he said.
In Tamil Nadu, an official of the Food Safety and Drug Administration Department said that the sale of the cough syrup manufactured by the city-based firm has been prohibited across state with effect from October 1.
Inspections were conducted at the pharmaceutical company's manufacturing facility in Sunguvarchathram in Kancheepuram district during the last two days and samples have been collected, he said. The company, he said, supplies the medicines to Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Puducherry.
The samples would be sent to the government run laboratories to test for the presence of the chemical 'Diethylene Glycol', he told PTI. Taking cognisance of the infant deaths, the Union Health Ministry on Friday issued an advisory to all States and Union Territories, directing that cough and cold medications should not be prescribed to children under the age of two years.
The advisory, issued by the Directorate General of Health Services, comes amid reports of child deaths allegedly linked to contaminated cough syrups in Madhya Pradesh and similar reported incidents in Rajasthan.
The food safety official said, "The department has been asked to prevent the sale of the syrup and freeze the stocks from October 1." The samples collected from the facility would be also be tested by the Union government. Responding to a query, he said, the syrup has been supplied to Puducherry, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh by the company.
According to the Drug department, the company has been ordered to halt production of the syrup at the facility till the reports from the laboratories are out. "We expect the report to be released in the coming days," he said.
Kerala Health Minister Veena George has announced that the State Drugs Control Department has directed a complete halt in the sale of Coldrif syrup in Kerala. This precautionary action follows reports from outside Kerala pointing to issues with a specific batch (Batch No. SR 13).
Preliminary investigation has found that this batch was not sold in Kerala. However, as a safety measure, the Drugs Controller has instructed drug inspectors to stop the distribution and sale of Coldrif syrup entirely. In Kerala, the medicine is distributed through eight suppliers. Distribution and sales at all these centres have been stopped. Additionally, all medical stores across the state have been instructed to suspend sales of Coldrif syrup. The minister also clarified that Coldrif syrup is not supplied through Kerala Medical Services Corporation Limited.
To ensure the safety of cough syrups in Kerala, the Drugs Control Department has begun strict inspections. Samples of Coldrif syrup have already been collected. Along with this, samples of other cough syrups are also being gathered and sent for testing. Directions have been given to collect and test samples of medicines manufactured by five companies that produce cough syrups in Kerala.
As per the directions of the Central DGHS, strict controls have been imposed on cough syrups for children in the state. Doctors are not allowed to prescribe cough syrups for children below two years of age. Even if such a prescription is written, medical stores are not permitted to dispense it. For children above five years, monitoring of cough syrup usage has also been tightened.
Senior Congress leader Kamal Nath blamed mixing of 'brake oil solvent' in cough syrups for the deaths of children with a suspected kidney ailment in Madhya Pradesh's Chhindwara district since September 7. The toll in the case reached 9 in Madhya Pradesh while media reports said of two infants died in Rajasthan.
As per official sources, a multidisciplinary team of experts from NIV, ICMR, NEERI, CDSCO and AIIMS, Nagpur are still analysing various samples and factors to assess the cause of child deaths in and around Chhindwara in Madhya Pradesh.
A central team of health experts visited Madhya Pradesh recently and collected various samples in coordination with the State Authorities, including samples of various cough syrups. Samples of water, entomological vectors, and respiratory specimens are under further investigation by NEERI, NIV Pune, and other laboratories. A team comprising experts from NCDC, NIV, ICMR, AIIMS Nagpur, and state health authorities is also investigating all possible causes behind the reported cases.
Read More
