FSSAI orders all States/UTs to remove non-compliant ORS products. [Photo: X]
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued strict instructions to all State and Union Territory Food Safety Commissioners. They must ensure the immediate removal of all non-compliant ORS (Oral Rehydration Solution) products from shops, pharmacies, and e-commerce platforms across the country.
The order highlights concerns over several fruit-based beverages, ready-to-serve drinks, and electrolyte products being marketed as ORS. According to the FSSAI, these products do not meet the requirements to qualify as ORS under World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines.
The regulatory body said, "Immediate removal of misleading & deceptively electrolyte drinks & 'ORS' either a single word or with prefix or suffix as the composite word term beverages, Ready-to-serve/ Drink In beverages, named product name containing from various retail outlets, e-commerce platforms, etc."
These non-compliant products were reportedly sold across e-commerce websites, local grocery stores, pharmacies, and multiple retail outlets nationwide.
The FSSAI has asked all Food Safety Commissioners to implement three key measures to curb the sale of these misleading ORS products:
These steps aim to protect public health and ensure that only scientifically approved ORS formulations are available to consumers.
Experts say mislabelled electrolyte drinks and fruit beverages can mislead consumers during dehydration emergencies. ORS is critical for treating dehydration caused by diarrhoea, heatstroke, or other illnesses. Using a drink that does not meet WHO ORS standards can worsen dehydration or delay proper treatment, they warn.
The FSSAI’s action is a proactive measure to prevent misuse of ORS branding and reduce health risks among the public.
This latest order also highlights the growing challenge of monitoring e-commerce platforms. With many non-compliant drinks available online, the FSSAI is targeting digital marketplaces as well as physical retail stores.
Experts say this may mark a new era of stricter digital regulation, where regulators actively track products online, preventing the spread of misleading health claims before they reach consumers.
The FSSAI advises consumers to check labels carefully. Only beverages that comply with the WHO ORS standards should be used in cases of dehydration. Avoid drinks that are simply marketed as “electrolytes” or “fruit-based ORS” without proper certification.
