The latest order marks a major victory for Hyderabad-based pediatrician Dr. Sivaranjani Santosh, who has been campaigning against this practice for nearly a decade.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has directed all food companies to stop using the term “ORS” on their product labels. The move comes after years of complaints that some brands were misleading consumers by selling sugary drinks under the ORS tag.
The latest order marks a major victory for Hyderabad-based pediatrician Dr. Sivaranjani Santosh, who has been campaigning against this practice for nearly a decade.
The decision follows an eight-year-long effort led by Dr. Sivaranjani Santosh, a pediatrician from Hyderabad. Dr. Santosh had been raising concerns that many companies were falsely promoting sugary drinks as ORS, misleading the public, and endangering children’s lives.
Speaking to ANI, she expressed relief over the FSSAI’s move. “ORS is meant to save lives—it’s one of the most significant medical discoveries of the 20th century,” Dr. Santosh said.
“But for years, companies have been deceiving people by selling high-sugar drinks under the ORS label. These drinks worsen diarrhea instead of treating it.”
She also noted that diarrhoeal diseases continue to be a major cause of death among children under five. “Around 13 out of every 100 child deaths in this age group are due to diarrhea,” she said, calling out companies for their “callous” disregard for public health.
The FSSAI’s order, dated October 14, 2025, instructs all States, Union Territories, and Central Licensing Authorities to ensure compliance. The directive states that no food or drink, including fruit-based beverages, non-carbonated drinks, or ready-to-drink products, can use “ORS” in their name or branding unless they meet the official medical formulation standards.
The authority warned that the misuse of “ORS” violates the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. This step aims to protect public health and prevent confusion between medical oral rehydration salts and commercial drinks.
Dr. Santosh’s fight was not easy. She faced resistance from her own peers and family but remained determined. In 2022, she filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Telangana High Court against brands marketing sugary beverages as ORS. Her petition revealed that some drinks contained up to 120 grams of sugar per liter, much higher than the 13.5 grams per liter recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).
The beverages also lacked essential electrolytes, making them ineffective and potentially harmful for dehydration treatment.
The case caught the attention of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and FSSAI. In April 2022, the FSSAI initially restricted the use of “ORS” in food and beverage labels. However, companies with registered trademarks challenged the decision, delaying the final implementation.
Now, with the latest October 2025 directive, Dr. Santosh’s campaign has achieved its ultimate goal — protecting consumers from misleading labeling and ensuring only medically approved ORS solutions bear the name.
