KENYA’S Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) has issued a recall for a batch of Johnson & Johnson children’s cough syrup amidst concerns over safety. This move follows a similar recall by Nigeria’s health regulator for the same batch sold under the Benylin Paediatric brand.
The decision to recall the cough syrup comes after laboratory tests revealed a high level of diethylene glycol, a substance associated with the deaths of numerous children in Gambia, Uzbekistan, and Cameroon since 2022, marking one of the world’s worst incidents of poisoning from oral medication.
In a statement released on Thursday, the PPB announced that investigations have been initiated, and it advised halting sales of certain batches of the product and returning them to suppliers.
The batch under recall was manufactured by Johnson & Johnson in South Africa in May 2021, with an expiration date of April 2024, according to the PPB. Kenvue, the company that now owns the Benylin brand following a spin-off from Johnson & Johnson last year, has yet to comment on the matter.
The recall underscores the importance of stringent safety measures in the pharmaceutical industry and highlights the need for heightened vigilance to protect public health. Authorities in both Kenya and Nigeria are actively working to ensure the safety and well-being of consumers amidst these concerning developments.
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