Chennai-based firm's eye drops contaminated, says US FDA report

The US FDA said that using contaminated artificial tears increases risk of eye infections that could result in blindness or death

Chennai-based pharmaceutical company Global Pharma Healthcare has suspended production of a line of eye drops that it sold in the US market after that country's regulator warned consumers to stop using these eye-drops due to potential bacterial contamination. 

According to sources in the Union Health Ministry, teams from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) and State Drug Controller (three officials each from the Centre and State) are on their way to the Global Pharma Healthcare plant located about 40 km south of Chennai.

These products are not sold in India, the source added.

FDA also placed Global Pharma