WHO alert, 13 October 2025
N°5/2025: Substandard (contaminated) oral liquid medicines: Coldrif, Respifresh TR, ReLife
Last checked 20 September 2026
On 13 October 2025 the WHO warned of three oral liquid medicines made in India. Coldrif (Sresan Pharmaceutical, Tamil Nadu), Respifresh TR (Rednex Pharmaceuticals, Gujarat) and ReLife (Shape Pharma, Gujarat), found by Indian authorities to contain diethylene glycol above acceptable limits. Coldrif was linked to the deaths of children from acute kidney injury in Madhya Pradesh. The alert noted that the products were manufactured and distributed within India and that there was no evidence of export, but asked regulators worldwide to remain vigilant. Indian authorities cancelled Sresan's licences, suspended production at the two Gujarat firms and, in December 2025, made DEG/EG testing of oral liquids mandatory before release.
India link: Domestic incident: child deaths in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan; manufacturers in Tamil Nadu and Gujarat; WHO found no evidence of export
WHO Medical Product Alert N°5/2025: Substandard (contaminated) oral liquid medicines
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Products named
- Coldrif syrup
- Sresan Pharmaceutical, Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu, India
- Respifresh TR syrup
- Rednex Pharmaceuticals, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
- ReLife syrup
- Shape Pharma, Gujarat, India