RWANDA’S drug regulator has taken precautionary action by recalling a batch of Johnson & Johnson’s children’s cough syrup following concerns raised by Nigerian health authorities regarding high levels of toxicity. This move aligns Rwanda with Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa, all of which have recalled the same batch of syrup.
The batch in question, manufactured by Johnson & Johnson in South Africa in May 2021, is used to treat coughs, hay fever, and allergic reactions in children. Additionally, South Africa has recalled an additional batch of the syrup.
‘Rwanda FDA issues the present recall for precautionary measures,’ stated the Rwanda Food and Drugs Authority in a dated April 12 statement. ‘A review of our safety database doesn’t reveal any adverse events reported.’
The concern arose after laboratory tests conducted by Nigeria’s health regulator revealed high levels of diethylene glycol in the syrup. This chemical has been linked to the deaths of numerous children in Gambia, Uzbekistan, and Cameroon since 2022, marking one of the world’s worst waves of poisoning from oral medication.
‘Kenvue is conducting its own assessment and working with health authorities to determine a course of action,’ said a statement from Kenvue, the current owner of the Benylin Paediatric syrup brand following a spin-off from Johnson & Johnson last year.
The recall underscores the importance of stringent safety measures in pharmaceutical products and highlights the collaborative efforts of regulatory bodies across Africa to ensure public health and safety.