Many states have banned this poisonous medicine amid reports of death of children due to consumption of phlegm syrup in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. The Central Drug Standards Control Organization (CDSCO) launched 19 drugs including cuff syrup and antibiotics in six states.
The Union Health Ministry said on Friday (October 03, 2025) that six samples of drugs tested by CDSCO and three samples investigated by Madhya Pradesh Food and Drug Administration (MPFDA) were found to be free from dyethylene glycol (DEG) and Ethylene Glycol (EG) contaminants, which are known to causing serious harm to kidney.
Excess of DEG in samples
Investigation revealed that this syrup was built in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu. The ministry said that the results were shared with us late Friday evening. The quantity of DEG in samples was higher than the acceptable limit. Subsequently, the Tamil Nadu government banned the sale of cuff syrup and ordered it to be removed from the market.
Regarding increasing incidents, the Central Government issued a consultation to all states and union territories and directed that children below two years of age should not be given cough and cold medicines. DGHS under the Ministry of Health said in consultation that cuff syrup is not usually recommended for children under five years of age.
Uttarakhand government also took action
Amid reports of death, the Uttarakhand government on Saturday launched a raid on medical stores and wholesale drug vendors across the state. Officials said that on the instructions of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and Health Minister Dr. Dhan Singh Rawat, joint teams of Health Department and Food Safety and Drug Administration (FDA) are raiding medical stores, wholesale drug dealers and hospitals in all districts of the state.
Gujarat government ordered an inquiry
At the same time, the Gujarat government has also come into action regarding these incidents. The Gujarat government on Saturday ordered an inquiry to find out the presence of any harmful element in the phlegm syrup sold in the state. Gujarat Health Minister Rishikesh Patel said that while looking at the news related to the death of children, the state’s health and family welfare department sought to know if these phlegm syrups were purchased by GMSCL.
The minister said, ‘It was found that none of these companies are in our buyer list. However, as a precaution, we have ordered an inquiry to find out what these harmful elements are present in all the phlegm syrup currently sold in Gujarat.
‘Cold’ syrup banned in Madhya Pradesh too
On the other hand, the sale of ‘coldfrife’ syrup has been banned on Saturday after the death of nine children due to suspected kidney infection in Chhindwara district of Madhya Pradesh. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said on ‘X’ on Saturday, ‘The death of children in Chhindwara due to cold syrup is very sad. Sales of this syrup have been banned throughout Madhya Pradesh. Other products of the company making syrup are also being banned.
He said that this syrup was built in a factory in Kanchipuram and after the incident, the Madhya Pradesh government has requested the Tamil Nadu government to conduct an inquiry. The Chief Minister said that the investigation report was received on Saturday morning and strict action has been taken. Action continues at the local level after the tragic deaths of children. The culprits will not be spared at any cost.
Ban on the sale of ‘cold’ phlegm syrup in Kerala also
Apart from this, Kerala Health Minister Veena George said on Saturday that the state’s drug control department has banned the sale of ‘cold’ phlegm syrup in the state. George said that this decision has been taken after the report received from other states, in which a problem was said in a batch of ‘Coldrif’ syrup.
The minister clarified in a statement that a preliminary investigation by the State Drug Control Department has revealed that the identified batch of the drug was not sold in Kerala. He said, ‘Due to safety concerns, the drug controller has instructed the drug inspectors to completely ban the distribution and sale of’ Coldrif ‘.’
Why is phlegm syrup fatal?
According to the INS report, Dr. Dhiren Gupta, a pediatric co-director of Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, spoke in detail about the deaths due to the deaths due to Kapha syrup. He says that this is not a new problem. In India and other countries, cases of deaths from phlegm syrup have been reported for the last several years.
According to Dr. Gupta, the main problem is that the pharmacological grade ingredients for the use of humans are often replaced by cheap and low quality industrial grade ingredients. This provides poisonous elements like ethylene glycol in the syrup, which damages the kidney and causes kidney failure, causing children to die many times.
The loss causes children in three stages
Dr. Gupta said that cuff syrup damages the child in three stages. After drinking the first syrup, there are problems like vomiting, stomach pain and diarrhea. In the second phase, crystals are formed in the kidney, causing the kidney failure. In the third phase, the brain is affected. This process is very deadly.
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