| Kolkata – Following a public safety directive, the Bengal Chemists and Druggists Association (BCDA) has banned the sale and purchase of the Coldrif cough syrup in West Bengal. The ban is a precautionary measure enacted after the deaths of several children in Madhya Pradesh after consuming Coldrif syrup. “The batch linked to the Madhya Pradesh incident has not entered West Bengal, but as a precautionary measure, we have informed all sellers to stop its sale,” BCDA secretary Prithwi Basu said. A meeting with medicine retailers has been scheduled on October 11 to reinforce the advisory, he added. The development comes amid growing concern over the safety of over-the-counter cough syrups. The owner of Coldrif manufacturer, a Tamil Nadu-based firm, has been arrested following the deaths while company’s manufacturing unit has been sealed. Earlier in the week, several states like Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Utter Pradesh, Kerala and Tamil Nadu has banned the sale, distribution and use of Coldrif cough syrup. The ban was triggered after lab tests confirmed that Coldrif syrup, manufactured by Sresan Pharmaceutical, was contaminated with diethylene glycol (DEG), a toxic industrial solvent. |
Now West Bangal bans “killer” Coldrif cough syrup
