The World Health Organisation (WHO) has alerted Nigeria and other countries on contaminated ‘Naturcold Syrup’ discovered in Cameroon.
The organisation gave the notification in a medical product alert posted on its website.
It said that the substandard product was unsafe and their use, especially in children, may result in serious injury or death.
According to WHO, the toxic effects can include abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, inability to pass urine, headache, altered mental state and acute kidney injury which may lead to death.
It said the substandard Naturcold Syrup identified in Cameroon was first reported to WHO on March 13, 2023.
The health agency noted that the active ingredients of Naturcold syrup were listed as paracetamol, phenylephrine hydrochloride and chlorpheniramine maleate.
It said that the combination of these three ingredients are used to relieve symptoms associated with the common cold, flu, and allergic rhinitis.
“Samples of the Naturcold syrup from Cameroon were made available to WHO on 27 June 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 as much as 28.6 per cent.
“The acceptable limit for Diethylene Glycol is no more than 0.10 per cent,” it said.
WHO said that diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol are toxic to humans when consumed and can prove fatal.
It said that the stated manufacturer of the affected product was listed on the product packaging as ‘Fraken International (England)’.
“The United Kingdom national regulatory authority, the MHRA, has confirmed that no such company exists in the UK,” it said.
Credit: dailypost.ng
