In a landmark move aimed at protecting consumers from misleading food labels, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has directed all food business operators (FBOs) to immediately stop using the term ‘ORS’ (Oral Rehydration Solution) in product names, trademarks, and advertisements. The regulator stated that using the term in any form—standalone, with a prefix or suffix, or as part of a brand name—is misleading and violates the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

The latest directive, issued on October 14, supersedes previous orders from July 2022 and February 2024, which had allowed the use of ‘ORS’ provided the label included a disclaimer stating that “the product is not an ORS formula as recommended by WHO.” After reviewing the issue, FSSAI concluded that such labeling was “false, deceptive, ambiguous, and erroneous,” and could endanger public health. Products using the term will now be considered misbranded and subject to penalties under the Act.

This significant policy change comes after the persistent efforts of Hyderabad-based paediatrician Dr Sivaranjani Santosh, who has been campaigning against misleading use of the ORS label for over eight years. Dr Santosh explained that sugar-rich energy drinks falsely labeled as ORS can worsen diarrhoea, putting children and adults at risk. “ORS is a wonder drug of the 20th century; it is meant to save lives. Yet, for over 14 years, companies have marketed high-sugar drinks with the ORS label, deceiving the public and endangering health,” she said.

Highlighting the scale of the problem, Dr Santosh noted that diarrhoea accounts for the death of 13 out of every 100 children under five in India. She criticized companies for prioritizing profits over safety and questioned the reliance on disclaimers, pointing out that many people, especially the illiterate, cannot comprehend them.

Dr Santosh also shared the personal challenges she faced during her campaign, including opposition from family and professional peers, as well as pressure from both authorities and the companies she challenged. Despite these hurdles, she remained committed, filing a public interest litigation to hold the companies accountable.

Her campaign has resulted in the FSSAI’s robust directive, ensuring that the misuse of the ORS term on energy and sugar-rich drinks is prohibited across India. The order mandates that all states, Union territories, and central licensing authorities enforce the removal of the term from all food products, thereby safeguarding consumers and emphasizing the life-saving significance of genuine ORS.