FSSAI warns States as mislabelled ‘ORS’ fruit and energy drinks continue to be sold
FSSAI orders nationwide removal of drinks marketed as ORS, new orders issued
By Anoushka Caroline Williams
Fresh orders on misleading ORS labels issued by FSSAI, nationwide removal of drinks marketed as ORS (Representation Image)
Hyderabad: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued a fresh order directing all States and Union Territories to immediately remove fruit-based beverages, ready-to-serve drinks, electrolyte or energy drinks and similar products marketed with the term ‘ORS' from retail shelves and online platforms.
The directive follows multiple reports that such products continue to be sold despite earlier orders issued on October 14 and 15.
Why FSSAI restricted the use of the term ‘ORS’
In its October orders, FSSAI withdrew permissions allowing food and beverage brands to use the term ‘ORS’, whether alone or with prefixes/suffixes in product names.
The authority said such branding misleads consumers into believing these drinks are equivalent to WHO-recommended Oral Rehydration Salts, which are strictly medicinal formulations.
Paediatrician and public health advocate Dr Sivaranjani Santosh, who has been at the forefront of an 8-year campaign against misleading ‘ORS’ drinks, previously explained the gravity of the issue in interviews with NewsMeter.
“ORS, or Oral Rehydration Solution, is not a soft drink. It’s a life-saving drug,” she said, emphasising that the real formula is meant to replace salts and fluids lost during dehydration.
“It helps replace the salts and water the body loses.”
Dr Sivaranjani had repeatedly warned that sugary beverages branded as ORS do the opposite of what real ORS is designed for. “That’s nearly eight times more than the real formula. This excessive sugar actually pulls water into the gut and worsens diarrhoea instead of curing it.”
Fresh violations detected
Despite clear instructions, FSSAI noted that several beverage brands continue to market ‘ORS’-labelled products across grocery stores, pharmacies, supermarkets and e-commerce platforms.
The authority stated, “It has come to the notice that certain fruit-based beverages, ready-to-serve drinks, electrolyte drinks and similar ORS-related products continue to be marketed and sold… in violation of the aforementioned orders.”
Dr Sivaranjani earlier highlighted how such products mislead families during medical emergencies.
“We realised the ORS people were buying was the problem. The public thought they were hydrating, but they were drinking high-sugar beverages that increased dehydration.”
She also noted the consequences for children: “If a child with diarrhoea drinks a high-sugar liquid labelled as ORS, the condition can worsen. But such deaths are recorded as diarrhoeal deaths, not as product-related.”
New directions to state authorities
FSSAI has now instructed all State/UT Food Safety Authorities to:
• Conduct immediate inspections to identify misleading ‘ORS’-labelled products.
• Remove non-compliant products from sale without delay.
• Initiate regulatory action under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
• Submit an Action Taken Report (ATR) detailing inspections, violations, corrective steps, and product removal status.
The sale of legitimate WHO-recommended ORS is not to be disturbed. The authority also clarified that some field officers have mistakenly begun restricting the sale of legitimate pharmaceutical ORS.
The order reiterates that WHO-recommended ORS is not regulated by FSSAI and falls entirely under drug regulations.
It states, “No interference is made with the storage, distribution, or sale of WHO-recommended ORS (drug) products. Enforcement activities shall remain strictly confined to non-compliant food products presented or labelled as ‘ORS’.”
Dr Sivaranjani has consistently advised consumers to check labels carefully: “When you buy ORS, always check the label. It must say ‘WHO-recommended formula’. Anything else is not ORS.”
An eight-year battle
Dr Sivaranjani’s long-standing campaign against misleading ORS drinks was acknowledged earlier this year when FSSAI restored the ban.
Reflecting on her journey, she told NewsMeter, “This battle took eight years. I had to go against powerful companies. When you misuse a medical term for marketing, you’re endangering lives.”
Next steps
The latest order, issued with approval of the Competent Authority, has been circulated to all State Food Safety Commissioners, Central Licensing Authorities, and Regional Directors. FSSAI is expected to monitor enforcement closely in the coming days.
