New Delhi: The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a serious warning about three contaminated cough syrups discovered in India — Coldrif, Respifresh TR, and ReLife — after they were linked to multiple child deaths. WHO has urged all national regulatory bodies to be vigilant and to inform the organisation immediately if products are found within their borders.

WHO has classified the syrups as substandard due to contamination with Diethylene Glycol (DEG). DEG is a toxin that can cause severe health complications, even death, if consumed. The tainted syrups are also said to be responsible for 22 deaths in Madhya Pradesh, in children under five years of age, and three deaths in Rajasthan. The affected children also suffered from acute kidney failure after medicine.

The WHO’s alert, i

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