700 cough syrup makers checked after 26 children die

The government has launched strict audits of more than 700 cough syrup manufacturers across India after 26 children in Madhya Pradesh died from drinking contaminated medicine, Minister of State for Health Anupriya Patel told Parliament on Tuesday.Most of the children were under five and died from kidney failure after taking Coldrif cough syrup, made by Sresan Pharmaceuticals in Tamil Nadu. Tests showed the syrup had 46.28% diethylene glycol (DEG), a poisonous chemical, far above the allowed limit of 0.1%.Read more…