The World Health Organisation (WHO) issued a medical product alert for a batch of poisonous NATURCOLD cough syrup marketed in Cameroon.
This medical product alert refers to a batch of substandard (contaminated) NaturCold syrup identified in Cameroon and first reported on March 13, 2023. All reasonable precautions have been taken to verify the information contained in this alert, and this may be updated as more information becomes available, the World Health Organisation said.
The stated active ingredients of NaturCold syrup are listed as paracetamol, phenylephrine hydrochloride, and chlorpheniramine maleate. The combination of these three ingredients is used to relieve symptoms associated with the common cold, flu, and allergic rhinitis.
Samples of the NaturCold syrup from Cameroon were made available to the World Health Organisation on June 27, 2023, and analysed in a WHO-contracted and pre-qualified laboratory. The analysis found that the product contained unacceptable amounts of diethylene glycol as contaminants. Diethylene glycol was detected in samples of NaturCold at a rate of 28.6%. The acceptable limit for Diethylene Glycol is no more than 0.10%.
The stated manufacturer of the affected product is listed on the product packaging as Fraken International (England). The United Kingdom’s national regulatory authority, the MHRA, has confirmed that no such company exists in the UK. Enquiries are still underway to determine the origin of the product. Therefore, the stated manufacturer has not provided guarantees to the World Health Organisation on the safety and quality of these products.
The product referenced in this alert may have marketing authorizations in other countries or regions. It may also have been distributed through informal markets to neighbouring countries.
