08/08/2023
There is a new WHO Medical Product Alert of contaminated pediatric medicine.
The Alert refers to a batch of substandard (contaminated) NATURCOLD Syrup identified in Cameroon. The stated active ingredients are listed as paracetamol, phenylephrine hydrochloride & chlorpheniramine maleate. Samples of the NATURCOLD syrup from Cameroon were made available to WHO on 27 June 2023 and analysed in a WHO contracted and prequalified laboratory.
The analysis found that the product contained unacceptable amounts of diethylene glycol as contaminants. Diethylene glycol was detected in samples of NATURCOLD as much as 28.6%, while the acceptable limit for Diethylene Glycol is no more than 0.10%.
The stated marketer of the affected product is listed on the product packaging as FRAKEN INTERNATIONAL (England).
The United Kingdom national regulatory authority has confirmed that no such manufacturer exists in the UK. The product may have marketing authorizations in other countries or regions or it may have been distributed through informal markets to neighboring countries.
Please, check your stocks and share among the concerned!
It is available at this link: https://www.who.int/news/item/19-07-2023-medical-product-alert-n-5-2023--substandard-(contaminated)-syrup-medicines
