Kenya’s drug regulator has initiated a recall of a specific batch of Johnson & Johnson children’s cough syrup, following in the footsteps of Nigeria, which recalled the same batch under the Benylin Paediatric brand.
The move comes after Nigeria’s health regulator detected a high level of diethylene glycol in the syrup through laboratory tests.
This chemical has been associated with the deaths of numerous children in countries like Gambia, Uzbekistan, and Cameroon since 2022, marking one of the most severe instances of poisoning from oral medication globally.
The Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) of Kenya released a statement announcing the commencement of investigations into the matter. The board advised that sales of certain batches of the product should cease immediately, with the recalled products to be returned to suppliers.
Kenvue, the current owner of the Benylin brand following its spin-off from J&J last year, has yet to provide a comment in response to inquiries.
The batch subject to the recall was manufactured by J&J in South Africa in May 2021, with an expiration date of April 2024, according to the PPB.
Melissa Enoch
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