GENEVA: The World Health Organization on Monday declared the consignment of Indian-made common cold syrup contaminated that it found in Iraq, Western media reported.
Reuters reported the Geneva-based UN health agency, in its analysis, said the syrup, branded Cold Out, had a higher trace of diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol contaminants.
WHO said the batch was manufactured by Fourrts (India) Laboratories Pvt. Ltd for Dabilife Pharma Pvt. Ltd.
It said the medicine has 0.25% diethylene glycol and 2.1% ethylene glycol, while the acceptable safety limit for both elements is not more than 0.10%.
The agency added that the Indian manufacturer and its distributor in Iraq had not provided guarantees to WHO on the safety and quality of the medicine.
WHO Traces Contamination in Indian-Made Syrup in Iraq
Meanwhile, the Indian health authorities have also found violations in manufacturing and laboratory practices at Riemann Labs, a pharmaceutical company known for producing cough syrup. The syrup had been linked to the tragic deaths of children in Cameroon.
Last year in Uzbekistan and Gambia the Indian cough syrups were linked to the deaths of at least 89 children.
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Following the development, the Indian regulator had to cancel the manufacturing license of Marion Biotech, which had exported the syrups to Uzbekistan and arrested some of their employees.
The company involved in Gambia, Maiden Pharmaceuticals, denied that its drugs were responsible for the deaths in the country, and tests by an Indian government laboratory found no toxins in them.
