Caution urged on China-made syrup

Manufacturers in Singapore have been urged to be extra vigilant following reports that 365 people in Panama had died after drinking a cough syrup made in China, the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) said Saturday.

A Chinese company reportedly substituted glycerine, a safe liquid having medicinal uses, with diethylene glycol in the production of cough syrup.

Diethylene glycol is an industrial solvent and ingredient in petrol and diesel engines.

There have been no cases detected in Singapore of diethylene glycol being used in cough syrup instead of glycerin, the HSA said.

Manufacturers are being advised to exercise “additional caution” when purchasing raw materials, the spokesman said.

In 2002, Slim 10 pills, a China-made product that contained the banned substance fenfluramine, caused the death of one woman in Singapore and forced another to undergo a liver transplant.

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