Geneva [Switzerland], October 14, 2025: The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a global alert regarding three contaminated cough syrups manufactured in India: Coldrif by Sresan Pharmaceutical, Respifresh TR by Rednex Pharmaceuticals, and ReLife by Shape Pharma.
These syrups have been found to contain diethylene glycol (DEG) at levels nearly 500 times above the acceptable limit, posing serious and potentially fatal health risks, particularly to children under five years of age.
The contaminated syrups have been linked to the deaths of at least 20 children in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, India. In response, India’s Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has revoked the manufacturing license of Sresan Pharmaceuticals, arrested its owner, and initiated recalls of the affected products.
The WHO has advised national regulatory authorities worldwide to report any detection of these products and to increase market surveillance, especially in informal and unregulated supply chains.
While the CDSCO has confirmed that the contaminated medicines have not been exported from India, the WHO emphasizes the need for vigilance to prevent further harm.
Health experts warn that consumption of these contaminated syrups can lead to acute kidney injury, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and altered mental states, which may result in death. The WHO urges healthcare providers to avoid prescribing these syrups to children and to report any adverse events to national pharmacovigilance centers
