LUCKNOW: Amid growing safety concerns surrounding a specific batch of Coldrif cough syrup, the Uttar Pradesh government has taken precautionary measures by suspending its sale across the state. This action follows similar steps taken by several other states.
The decision was prompted by reports from other states, including Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, and Rajasthan, where the syrup is suspected to be linked to the deaths of several children.
Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak described the incident of child deaths due to cough syrup as “tragic” and clarified that the state government had never procured the controversial cough syrup.
Speaking to the media on Monday, Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak said, “I have also issued an advisory to avoid such cough syrup. Just yesterday, the Drug Control Department banned it in Uttar Pradesh.”
Assistant Drug Commissioner Dinesh Kumar Tiwari on Sunday issued an order identifying the cough syrup as a banned product and said,”Cold RIF Syrup (Batch No. SR-1-3, Manufactured May 2025, Expiry April 2027) manufactured by M/s Shreesan Pharmaceuticals (Manufacturer No. 787, Bangalore Highway, Sunguvachatram, Kanchipuram District, Tamil Nadu) is suspected to contain toxic chemicals such as diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol. These two chemicals are extremely dangerous to the body and their consumption can prove fatal.”
In his order, Dinesh Kumar Tiwari directed all drug dealers, government and non-government hospitals to immediately stop the sale, distribution, and use of the cough syrup from the affected batch. He further instructed that samples from existing stocks available in shops and hospitals be immediately sent to the State Drug Laboratory in Lucknow for testing.
The Union Health Ministry has advised that cough and cold medications should not be prescribed or dispensed to children below two years.
In an advisory, the Ministry said, these are generally not recommended for children below five years, and above that, any use should follow careful clinical evaluation with close supervision.
The Ministry has written a letter to the Director of Health Services of all States and Union Territories in this regard. The advisory has been issued in view of child deaths in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan that were linked to the consumption of cough syrups.
Agencies