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South Africa’s health regulator has announced the recall of batches of Johnson & Johnson’s children’s cough syrup after the detection of high levels of diethylene glycol, a toxic substance. The affected batches were distributed not only in South Africa but also in Eswatini, Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, and Nigeria, according to a statement issued by the regulator on Saturday.
This recall comes in response to a report by Nigeria’s health regulatory authority earlier in the week, which first identified the presence of the toxin in a batch of Benylin Paediatric Syrup. Both Kenya and Nigeria have already initiated recalls for the same syrup, which is commonly used in the treatment of hay fever and other upper respiratory tract allergies.
Kenvue, which acquired the Benylin brand following its spin-off from Johnson & Johnson last year, released a statement acknowledging the situation. The company stated that it is conducting its own assessment and collaborating with health authorities to determine the appropriate course of action. Despite this, Kenvue highlighted that their global safety database showed no significant adverse events linked to any batch of Benylin Paediatric Syrup released between May 2021 and April 11, 2024.
The presence of high levels of diethylene glycol in cough syrup has previously been associated with tragic consequences, including the deaths of numerous children in countries such as Gambia, Uzbekistan, and Cameroon since 2022. These incidents represent some of the deadliest episodes of medication poisoning through oral medications worldwide.
As health authorities work to address the concerns surrounding the contaminated cough syrup, consumers are advised to refrain from using the affected batches and to seek alternative treatments for respiratory conditions in consultation with healthcare professionals.
