Johnson & Johnson Children's Cough Syrup Recalled in Six African Countries Over Toxic Substance

Johnson & Johnson's children's cough syrup has been recalled in six African countries, including Tanzania, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa, after laboratory tests found unacceptably high levels of the toxic substance diethylene glycol. The recalls were issued as a precautionary measure by drug regulators in the affected countries.

The Nigerian regulator NAFDAC reported that the Benylin Paediatric Syrup, manufactured by Johnson & Johnson in South Africa in May 2021, was found to contain an elevated level of diethylene glycol that can cause acute oral toxicity and acute kidney injury. The recalled batch has an expiration date of April 2024. "The affected product was manufactured in May 2021 in Cape Town, South Africa, with a batch number of 329304 and an expiration date of April 2024," NAFDAC stated.

The South African drug regulator said there were no records of adverse reactions to the recalled batches and that they are conducting further tests and investigations. The recalls follow the recent deaths of dozens of children in other countries linked to diethylene glycol poisoning from oral medications.

Why this matters: This incident highlights the critical importance of stringent quality control measures in the pharmaceutical industry to ensure the safety of consumer products, especially those intended for children. The widespread recall across multiple African countries underscores the potential health risks posed by contaminated medications and the need for vigilant monitoring by regulatory authorities.

Johnson & Johnson has stated that the recall is a precautionary measure and that no adverse health effects have been reported so far. The company is working with local health authorities to ensure the safe removal of the recalled products from the market. Health authorities in the affected countries have urged the public to stop using the recalled cough syrup and seek medical attention if they have already used it.

Key Takeaways

• Johnson & Johnson's children's cough syrup recalled in 6 African countries
• Syrup found to contain high levels of toxic substance diethylene glycol
• Recalls issued as precautionary measure by drug regulators in affected countries
• No adverse health effects reported so far, but potential health risks highlighted
• Importance of stringent quality control in pharmaceutical industry emphasized