Indonesian FDA Publishes List Containing 133 Syrup Medicine That Are Safe for Consumption in Wake of AKI Cases

JAKARTADAILY.ID – The Indonesian Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) released a list of 133 syrup drugs that are safe to use. Previously, BPOM had ordered to recall 5 brands of syrup medicine containing Ethylene Glycol (EG) and Diethylene Glycol (DEG) contaminants.

"This is a search that we did from the beginning, there are 133 drug syrups registered with BPOM that do not use the four solvents Propylene Glycol, Polyethylene Glycol, Sorbitol, and/or Glycerin/Glycerol, so they are safe as long as they are used according to the existing rules of use," explained Head of BPOM, Penny Kusumastuti Lukito at the BPOM Office, Jakarta, Sunday, October 23, 2022.

The BPOM suspects that the contamination of Ethylene Glycol and Diethylene Glycol comes from the four additives used in the syrup. The four additives are propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, sorbitol, and glycerin/glycerol.

Baca Juga: Indonesia's FDA Recalls Five Syrup-Based Medicine that Allegedly Caused Acute Kidney Injury in Children

"The four ingredients are actually not dangerous or prohibited from being used in the manufacture of syrups," he said.

In addition to 133 products, BPOM also found 13 medicine that is safe after being researched using other methods. Then it was developed again with data provided by the Indonesian Ministry of Health, namely 102 products, there were 23 products that did not use the four solvents so they were safe.

"There are also 7 products that have been tested and the results are declared safe to use as long as they comply with the rules of use," he said.

"Then there are 3 products that have been tested and are declared to contain EG and DG contamination exceeding the safe threshold, but actually we have reported these three products," he added.

Also Read: Indonesian Ministry of Health Detected Three Chemicals in that Caused Acute Kidney Injuries in Children

The remaining 69 medicine are still in the process of sampling and testing. Penny hopes to gradually release the results soon.

Previously, the Indonesian Ministry of Health confirmed that they have detected three harmful chemicals in children that are suffering from Acute Kidney Injury.

"The Ministry of Health has researched that the toddlers affected by AKI (Acute Kidney Injury) were detected to have three hazardous chemicals (ethylene glycol-EG, diethylene glycol-DEG, ethylene glycol butyl ether-EGBE)," explained the Indonesian Minister of Health, Budi Gunadi Sadikin in a written statement on Thursday, October 20, 2022.

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