Manufacturer of Toxic 'Coldrif' Cough Syrup Arrested After 20 Child Deaths
G. Ranganathan, owner of Sresan Pharmaceuticals, has been arrested in Chennai in connection with the deaths of at least 20 children in Madhya Pradesh. The children died after consuming Coldrif cough syrup, which was found to contain dangerously high levels of the toxic industrial chemical diethylene glycol. The arrest was made by a Madhya Pradesh police team, and Ranganathan faces charges including culpable homicide. The syrup has now been banned in at least eight states and union territories.
Unpacked:
Diethylene glycol contamination often happens when manufacturers illegally substitute it for propylene glycol, a safer pharmaceutical solvent, to cut costs. In Coldrif’s case, the contaminated batch contained 48.6% DEG, which is 480 times the permissible limit, indicating a severe lapse in quality control and oversight.
Authorities have banned and recalled affected batches, suspended sales, and launched widespread testing of cough syrup samples. Expert committees were formed to investigate the causes and regulatory gaps, and advisories were issued recommending caution with pediatric cough syrups.
Diethylene glycol is metabolized in the liver into toxic compounds like oxalic acid, which can cause rapid kidney failure by forming sharp crystals in kidney tubules. Ingesting DEG is extremely dangerous and often fatal for children.
Yes, India has faced previous incidents of cough syrup contamination with diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol, resulting in child deaths and raising concerns about pharmaceutical safety. These recurring crises have prompted ongoing regulatory reforms.