What Is the Truth Behind Bloomberg’s Announcement About a Toxic Medicine Being Sold in Iraq?
A photo circulated on social media attached to the following news: "Bloomberg reveals an Indian drug contaminated with toxic substances sold in Iraqi pharmacies."
The Clarification:
The circulating post is misleading, as the picture attached to the news is not of the intended medicine. On July 28, 2023, the American agency Bloomberg announced that there are:
"An Indian-made cold syrup sent to Iraq contains poison."
They specified that it is contaminated with:
"The toxic substance ethylene glycol."
The agency added:
"A bottle of Cold Out purchased at a pharmacy in Baghdad in March contains 2.1% ethylene glycol."
Confirming that it:
"Played a role in mass child deaths caused by Indian-made cough syrups in Gambia and Uzbekistan last year."
It is a slightly viscous liquid that boils at 198 °C (388.4 °F). Its most common use is as an automotive antifreeze, but it is highly poisonous; animals or humans that drink the solution become very ill and may die.
While the circulated image is not of the toxic syrup as misleadingly suggested, it is an Iraqi-made product and not the intended cough syrup.
The Iraqi Ministry of Health clarified that the Indian-made medication "Cold Out" is:
"Not officially registered with the Ministry of Health, and trading it is considered illegal."
Indicating that:
"We have previously warned about this remedy."
On July 29, 2023.