In October 2025, 14 children died in Madhya Pradesh, India. Investigations revealed that all of the children had suffered acute kidney failure and that they had consumed a cough syrup called Coldrif. Testing of the cough syrup revealed diethylene glycol (DEG), a toxic chemical used in antifreeze.

The incident immediately drew national attention. The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) and various State Food and Drug Administrations (FDAs) launched inspections, recalled toxic batches, and suspended production at the manufacturer’s facility in Tamil Nadu. The Coldrif ban marked one of India’s most serious public-health alerts since the 2022-2023 global cough-syrup poisonings.

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How the Coldrif Crisis Unfolded?

The crisis began in the Chhindwara district of Madhya Pradesh, where hospitals reported multiple cases of unexplained renal failure among children. Doctors noticed a common factor: all victims had consumed Coldrif syrup to treat cough and cold. Samples sent to government drug-testing laboratories revealed dangerously high levels of diethylene glycol, a toxic solvent that destroys kidney tissue and the nervous system.

Once confirmed, the Madhya Pradesh government imposed an immediate state-wide ban on Coldrif syrup. The Union Health Ministry ordered CDSCO to conduct pan-India testing of all cough syrups produced by the same company, Sresan Pharmaceuticals.

Law-enforcement agencies arrested the company owner and sealed its production unit after inspectors from CDSCO and the Tamil Nadu FDA found filthy conditions, unlabelled chemical drums, and missing testing records. The case has now moved under criminal investigation for producing and distributing adulterated medicines.

States That Banned Coldrif Syrup

After confirmation of contamination, many states and union territories banned Coldrif or restricted its sale. Below are some key ones:

Names of Three Banned Toxic Syrups

Because of testing that revealed contamination, three syrups were declared unsafe and banned or recalled:

1. Coldrif

Manufactured by Sresan Pharmaceuticals (Tamil Nadu). It was found to contain 48.6% DEG, far above the permitted limit of 0.1%. 

2. Respifresh TR

Made by Rednex Pharmaceuticals (Gujarat). Found contaminated with 1.342% DEG, although no child deaths have been conclusively linked to it. 

3. RELIFE

Produced by Shape Pharma (Gujarat). Detected to contain 0.616% DEG, and similarly was recalled, though no fatalities have been tied yet.

What is Diethylene Glycol (DEG)?

Diethylene glycol is a colourless, sweet-tasting industrial solvent used in products such as brake fluids, paints, and coolants. In pharmaceuticals, manufacturers sometimes use it as a cheaper substitute for glycerine or propylene glycol, which are safe ingredients used to dissolve active compounds.

However, DEG is highly toxic to humans. Once ingested, it converts to metabolites that damage the kidneys, liver, and central nervous system. Even small doses can cause vomiting, confusion, seizures, and, finally, acute kidney failure, especially in children.

Past global tragedies, including the Gambia cough-syrup deaths (2022) and Uzbekistan poisoning (2022), were also linked to DEG contamination. Following those events, the World Health Organization (WHO) urged all countries, including India, to strengthen DEG and ethylene glycol testing in all liquid oral medicines.

Role of CDSCO and State FDAs

The CDSCO, under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, is India’s national drug-control authority. After the Coldrif incident, CDSCO directed all state FDAs to:

• Test every cough syrup batch for DEG and ethylene glycol (EG) before release.
• Conduct random inspections of small-scale drug manufacturers.
• Verify raw-material sources and ensure suppliers provide authentic quality certificates.
• Immediately recall all products from manufacturers found violating safety norms.

State FDAs, such as those in Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and Delhi, imposed stricter checks at the local level. They sealed warehouses, collected market samples, and suspended licences of firms failing good-manufacturing-practice (GMP) compliance.

The crackdown aligns with India’s goal to rebuild trust in its pharmaceutical exports and domestic medicines after recent contamination incidents in Gambia, Uzbekistan, and Cameroon.

Steps Taken After the Cough Syrup Ban

Following this cough syrup issue, the CDSCO announced a comprehensive national audit of syrup-manufacturing units. Every batch of liquid formulations must now undergo mandatory DEG/EG testing before sale. States have been instructed to create digital databases of approved solvent suppliers and to cross-verify their purity certificates. The Health Ministry also plans to:

• Integrate real-time testing data from state FDAs into a national dashboard.
• Introduce a QR-based tracking system on cough-syrup bottles for batch traceability.
• Tighten penalties for manufacturers who skip quality checks.
• Organise training programs for small drug makers to improve GMP compliance.

Conclusion

The Coldrif Cough syrup issue puts a question mark on India's medical industry, as its work is still not proper, and there is a need to focus. Now, CDSCO and State FDA will together focus properly on testing, manufacturing, and safe supply, only then will this question mark be removed. India's pharma industry will have to pay proper attention from the first step until the last, otherwise, this thing can have a global impact on India. This Coldrif case is tragic, but it will make India's healthcare system stronger, safer and accountable so that such issues do not have to be faced in the future.