Counterfeit Cough Medicine Traced To Chinese Factory
A Chinese factory was the source of a fake chemical used in medicines that killled at least 100 patients, mainly children, after it was used to make cough medicine, NYT reports in an excellent 7-page investigation.
Through a state-owned company, Taixing Glycerine sold diethylene glycol as pharmaceutical grade glycerine.
Diethylene glycol is used in solvents and as an antitfreeze. When consumed by humans, it results in difficulty breathing, and death.
11 July 2007