A tragic case in India has once again raised global questions about the safety of cough syrups and the strength of pharmaceutical oversight.
Fourteen children in Madhya Pradesh reportedly died after taking Coldrif, a cough syrup manufactured by Sresan Pharmaceuticals. Many of the children developed acute kidney failure before passing away.
Authorities have confirmed that a sample from one batch of the syrup contained extremely high levels of diethylene glycol (DEG), a toxic chemical used in industrial products such as antifreeze. Even small amounts of DEG can cause kidney failure, especially in young children. Following this discovery, officials banned the sale of Coldrif, seized bottles from the affected batch, and arrested several company representatives.
The Coldrif tragedy highlights what can happen when safety systems fail but it also shows that strong oversight can make a difference. For most families, cough syrups remain safe when manufactured responsibly and used correctly.
The key lesson isn’t to fear common medicines, but to insist on better safeguards, transparency, and accountability so that such incidents never happen again.
