The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has issued a public notice regarding the recall of Benylin Paediatric (100mls) Syrup LOT No 329304, by the Nigeria National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration (NAFDAC).

The cough syrup, manufactured by Johnson & Johnson (Pty), South Africa, was recalled from the Nigerian market due to the detection of an “unacceptable high level” of diethylene glycol (DEG), a chemical substance harmful to humans.

“The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) wishes to inform the public of
the recall of Benylin Paediatric (100mls) Syrup, LOT No 329304
by the Nigeria National Agency for Food and Drugs
Administration (NAFDAC) from the Nigerian market. Benylin
Paediatric Syrup is a cough mixture manufactured by Johnson &
Johnson (Pty), South Africa. The recall was necessitated by the
detection of an “unacceptable high level” of diethylene glycol
(DEG) in the product”

The FDA cautioned that consumption of DEG can lead to health complications such as headaches, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, paralysis, convulsion, acute kidney disease, and inability to pass urine, which may potentially result in death.

However, the FDA assures the Ghanaian public that LOT No. 329304 is not available in the Ghanaian market.

This assurance comes after a thorough review of all data on the importation of the product into Ghana since 2021. The FDA’s ongoing market surveillance efforts across the country have so far confirmed the absence of the said lot in Ghana.

“The FDA hereby assures the public that LOT No. 329304 is not
available on our market, having reviewed all the data on the
importation of the product to Ghana from 2021. Ongoing market
surveillance efforts across the country so far confirm the absence
of the lot in Ghana”

In a bid to prevent the entry of LOT No. 329304 onto the Ghanaian market, the FDA has heightened its surveillance activities at the ports.

Additionally, as a precautionary measure since 2022, all syrup formulations imported into the country are sampled at the port of entry and tested for the presence of both DEG and ethylene glycol where necessary.

FDA said it has screened samples of other lots of Benylin Paediatric 100mls syrup available on the Ghanaian market for the presence of DEG. The results turned out to be negative, further assuring the safety of the product in the Ghanaian market.

Click here to read FDA’s release on Benylin Paediatric Syrup

By: Bright Yao Dzakah | Metrotvonline.com | Ghana