No Evidence of Contaminated Cough Syrup in U.S.: FDA

Share

FDA says there is no evidence at this time that contaminated cough syrup products that have killed more than 300 children in Asia and Africa have entered the U.S. supply. CBS News reports the agency gave the assessment while saying it is joining the World Health Organization (WHO) and other international partners in investigating the source of the contaminated cough syrups.

The over-the-counter cough syrup products sold in several countries are reportedly tainted with diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol, according to the WHO. Reuters reports that most of the children who died were under age 5 and the cause of death was acute kidney injury. The stated manufacturer of the products was Maiden Pharmaceuticals Limited of Haryana, India.

“Although FDA currently has no indication that the products described in the 2022 and 2023 WHO alerts have entered the U.S. drug supply, the agency is investigating the potential impact and scope of this hazard on FDA-regulated products,” the agency told CBS News. It said strict safeguards have been implemented so that products made with “glycerin, propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, maltitol solution, hydrogenated starch hydrolysate or sorbitol solution” are receiving “increased regulatory oversight.”

Read more