Nigeria, Kenya and S.A Recalls Johnson & Johnson Children’s Cough Syrup Over Toxic Contamination

Kenya’s drug regulator, the Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB), has announced the recall of a batch of Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) children’s cough syrup, Benylin Pediatric, due to concerns regarding the presence of a potentially lethal toxic substance.

The decision to recall the oral medication came after an alert from Nigeria’s National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), which had also recalled the same batch of syrup. The product, used to treat hay fever and allergic conditions in children aged two to 12, is manufactured by JNJ in South Africa with an expiration date of April 2024.

The contaminant in question is diethylene glycol, which has been associated with severe health risks including abdominal pain, kidney injury, and even fatalities. Several countries, including Gambia, Uzbekistan, and Cameroon, have reported deaths linked to Indian-made cough syrups containing diethylene glycol since 2022.

Following Nigeria’s lead, South Africa’s health regulator also initiated a recall of batches of Johnson & Johnson’s children’s cough syrup across multiple African countries, including Kenya. The affected batches, sold in South Africa, Eswatini, Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, and Nigeria, have been found to contain high levels of diethylene glycol.

The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) has identified the affected batches and urged the public to discontinue their use immediately.

SAHPRA, in collaboration with the manufacturer, Kenvue (formerly Johnson and Johnson), is conducting investigations into the matter to ensure consumer safety.

The recall serves as a reminder of the critical importance of stringent quality control measures in pharmaceutical manufacturing. The public is advised to remain vigilant and follow regulatory directives to prevent potential health risks associated with contaminated medications.