Coldrif cough syrup banned in Bengal after child deaths linked to it in Madhya Pradesh

The Bengal Chemists and Druggists Association (BCDA) on Thursday, October 9, 2025, directed all retail and wholesale drug dealers in the state to stop sale and purchase of Coldrif cough syrup with immediate effect, an official said.

The order was issued following allegations that several children in Madhya Pradesh died after drinking cough syrup.

He said in an advisory the BCDA warned against stockpiling cough syrup.

BCDA secretary Prithwi Basu said, “The batch linked to the Madhya Pradesh incident did not enter West Bengal, but as a precautionary measure, we have informed all vendors to stop their sales.” he said.

A meeting with drug retailers is planned for October 11 to strengthen the recommendation, he added.

This development comes at a time when concerns are growing about the safety of over-the-counter cough syrups. The manufacturer of Coldrif, a Tamil Nadu-based firm, was arrested following the deaths that sparked panic in several states, including West Bengal.

Reports indicate that the syrup contains chemicals such as propylene glycol, glycerin and sorbitol.

Meanwhile, the West Bengal State Drug Control Board has ordered that these ingredients be procured only from approved vendors and tested in certified laboratories. Test reports will be submitted to the board’s licensing authority.

But pediatricians warn that the real threat may lie elsewhere.

Director of the Child Health Institute, Dr. Jaydeb Roy said internal findings showed that diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol were present in the syrup; both of these are known to cause acute kidney injury.

Dr Roy warned against the indiscriminate use of cough syrups in children, saying: “This is not the first time such an incident has occurred. It is very important to be careful.”

“Infants often can’t expel mucus even if thinned by syrups. Giving such medication without medical advice can be dangerous,” he said, adding that the trend of buying medicines based on internet searches is deeply worrying.