FSSAI bans misleading ‘ORS’ labels on beverages after Hyderabad doctor’s 8-year campaign

After an eight-year campaign by Hyderabad paediatrician Dr Sivaranjani Santosh, the FSSAI has banned beverage makers from using the ‘ORS’ label. The decision ensures only WHO-approved medical ORS can carry the name, protecting children from harmful sugary drinks

Hyderabad: In a significant victory for child health and consumer safety, an eight-year-long solitary campaign waged by a Hyderabad paediatrician has reached a decisive stage, with Food Safety and Standards Authority (FSSAI) on Wednesday issuing a directive banning the use of the term ‘Oral Rehydration Salts’ (ORS) by beverage products.

Senior paediatrician Dr Sivaranjani Santosh has led the fight against the manufacturers retailing their beverages as ORS. Her advocacy stresses a vital point, which is that ORS is a specific drug formulation with a precise balance of salts, glucose (dextrose) that ensures rapid, effective fluid absorption.

---

The last straw in this ongoing battle over ORS label appears to have been the Madhya Pradesh incident, where several children died after consuming contaminated cough syrup.

“We have won the battle and this is a big victory for public health because the ORS tag must be reserved exclusively for WHO-compliant formula. This decisive regulatory intervention will protect children. We directly questioned regulatory authorities, including CDSCO, FSSAI and MOHFW, whether they want to witness similar unfortunate incidents linked to ORS to happen,” she said.

Dr Sivranjani, who has filed a PIL in the Telangana High Court against these alleged deceptive marketing practices, has for the past several years raised this issue with regulatory authorities, including Central Drugs Standards Control Organisation (CDSCO), Union Ministry of Health Family Welfare (MOHFW), FSSAI and Union Health Minister, J P Nadda.

What is the issue with ORS claims?

For nearly a decade, the pediatrician maintains that she has personally witnessed children arriving with worsening cases of diarrhoea, even after consuming drinks with ORS labels purchased from medical stores.

“ORS is a WHO-recommended medication that has to receive approval from CDSCO, which is the drug regulatory body of the country. The ORS labelled products, which were being given to children, have high-sugar content, which worsens their diarrhoea. Such sugary products should not be given to children at the time of diarrhoea. You are simply replacing a life-saving solution with a sweetened beverage during the time of crisis,” Dr Santosh points out.

A few years ago, the FSSAI issued directives, allowing some companies to continue using the ORS tag, provided a disclaimer was added.

Dr Santosh contested this compromise through advocacy. One of her videos highlighting this issue, posted on a social media platform, went viral, attracting over 3.3 million (33 lakh) views in a matter of weeks.