Kenya recalls Benylin children's cough syrup over safety concerns

PBB said in a Thursday statement that the alert was in response to a recall notice from Nigeria's National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). 

The alert was prompted by NAFDAC's discovery of an unacceptable high level of diethylene glycol in the product, which poses serious health risks to consumers. 

Diethylene glycol is a toxic contaminant that has been linked to severe health problems such as abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, headache, altered mental state, and acute kidney injury, all of which are potentially fatal.

The PPB has since launched investigations and established a rapid response protocol to address the matter. 

The affected batch of Benylin Paediatric 100mls syrup, manufactured in May 2021 and with an expiry date of April 2024, is intended to relieve cough, hay fever, and allergies in paediatric patients.

As part of its response efforts, the PPB is currently sampling large batches of Benylin paediatric 100mls syrup within its jurisdiction to determine levels of diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol. 

Customers are strongly advised to check the batch number and expiry date on their bottles of Benylin paediatric cough syrup. 

The PPB issued a notice on Thursday stating, "If you have a bottle from Batch No 329304, manufactured in May 2021, do not consume the product. Return it to the point of purchase or a designated collection point for safe disposal."