The Coldrif cough syrup tragedy has once again exposed gaps in India’s drug safety system. Dr Lancelot Pinto, consultant respirologist at P D Hinduja National Hospital, explains why such contamination is fatal, and when cough syrups are truly needed Coldrif cough syrup, linked to the deaths of at least 14 children in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Kerala, was found to contain 48.6% diethylene glycol, nearly 500 times the safe limit. Can you explain how ingesting such a toxic chemical affects children? Diethylene glycol should not be present, in any amount, in a medication. Diethylene glycol (DEG) and ethylene glycol (EG) are industrial solvents used in antifreeze, paints, brake fluids, and not meant for human consumption. Since they are inexpensive solvents, unscrupulous ma

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