India has said samples of cough syrup taken from a manufacturer blamed by the World Health Organisation for the deaths of 66 children in Gambia were found to be of “standard quality”.
The government began investigating Maiden Pharmaceuticals after the global health body issued an alert in October over four of the syrups produced by the Indian drug maker.
The WHO said the syrups led to the deaths and gave warnings that they could be linked to acute kidney injuries in the West African nation.
Promethazine Oral Solution, Kofexmalin Baby Cough Syrup, Makoff Baby Cough Syrup and Magrip N Cold Syrup were suspected to have been contaminated with diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol.
The chemicals are used in preparation of antifreeze, brake fluid, cigarettes, paints and some dyes, plastics, films and cosmetics.
But India's Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilisers Bhagwanth Khuba informed the parliament on Thursday that samples of the drugs were found to be safe after an investigation.
“As per report of the government analyst, the samples have been declared to be of standard quality. The said samples were also found negative for both diethylene glycol and Ethylene Glycol EG,” Mr Khuba said in a written reply.
Authorities in India's Haryana state had ordered Maiden Pharmaceuticals to halt the production of cough medications, weeks after the WHO's alert following the Gambian Health Ministry’s investigation in July.
The warning against syrup paracetamol was issued on September 9, a month after investigators reported the death of at least 28 children aged five months to four years from acute renal failure.
The Drugs Controller General of India has also written a letter to Rogerio Gasper, director of Regulation and Prequalification saying that the WHO drew a “premature” link between the deaths of the children and cough syrups.
“It is clear that perhaps premature deduction was drawn … regarding the cause of death,” Dr Venugopal G Somani, the chief of DGCI, said in a statement. “Every subsequent alert or publication from the WHO only seems to be a reaffirmation of this deduction, without waiting for independent verification.”
He also said that the WHO’s statement has adversely affected the image of the Indian pharmaceutical products.
The South Asian nation is known as the “pharmacy of the world” in terms of its manufacturing volume worth $42 billion.
Africa is one of the top five destinations for the country's pharmaceutical exports.
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What is Folia?
Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal's new plant-based menu will launch at Four Seasons hotels in Dubai this November. A desire to cater to people looking for clean, healthy meals beyond green salad is what inspired Prince Khaled and American celebrity chef Matthew Kenney to create Folia. The word means "from the leaves" in Latin, and the exclusive menu offers fine plant-based cuisine across Four Seasons properties in Los Angeles, Bahrain and, soon, Dubai.
Kenney specialises in vegan cuisine and is the founder of Plant Food Wine and 20 other restaurants worldwide. "I’ve always appreciated Matthew’s work," says the Saudi royal. "He has a singular culinary talent and his approach to plant-based dining is prescient and unrivalled. I was a fan of his long before we established our professional relationship."
Folia first launched at The Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills in July 2018. It is available at the poolside Cabana Restaurant and for in-room dining across the property, as well as in its private event space. The food is vibrant and colourful, full of fresh dishes such as the hearts of palm ceviche with California fruit, vegetables and edible flowers; green hearb tacos filled with roasted squash and king oyster barbacoa; and a savoury coconut cream pie with macadamia crust.
In March 2019, the Folia menu reached Gulf shores, as it was introduced at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, where it is served at the Bay View Lounge. Next, on Tuesday, November 1 – also known as World Vegan Day – it will come to the UAE, to the Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach and the Four Seasons DIFC, both properties Prince Khaled has spent "considerable time at and love".
There are also plans to take Folia to several more locations throughout the Middle East and Europe.
While health-conscious diners will be attracted to the concept, Prince Khaled is careful to stress Folia is "not meant for a specific subset of customers. It is meant for everyone who wants a culinary experience without the negative impact that eating out so often comes with."
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