For years, the word “ORS” was being used in the brand names of beverages, often high in sugar. These products were routinely sold to patients prescribed ORS, worsening dehydration and associated health complications.
Published Oct 16, 2025 | 5:07 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 16, 2025 | 5:07 PM
ORS vs ORSL. (Wikimedia Commons)
Synopsis: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has barred the use of the term “ORS” in the names or labels of beverages, stipulating that only genuine WHO-recommended Oral Rehydration Solution products may carry the term. The directive, issued on 15 October, overturns earlier permissions that allowed companies to use “ORS” with disclaimers. The move follows years of advocacy by doctors and public health campaigners, who have hailed it as a major victory for consumer safety.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued a major clarification prohibiting the use of the term “ORS” in food and beverage product names, following years of regulatory back-and-forth.
FSSAI has mandated that only genuine WHO-formula-based products can use “ORS” on labels or as a brand name. This includes a prohibition on its use as a prefix or suffix.
The clarification, dated Wednesday, 15 October, follows an earlier order issued a day before on Tuesday, which withdrew previous permissions allowing “ORS” usage with disclaimers.
Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) is a glucose-electrolyte formulation recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) for oral rehydration therapy (ORT). It is used to replace fluids and essential electrolytes lost during diarrhoea or vomiting.
“The use of the term ‘ORS’ in the trademark name or in the naming of any food product, whether fruit-based, non-carbonated, or ready-to-drink beverages, even when accompanied by a prefix or suffix, constitutes a violation of the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and the regulations made thereunder,” the FSSAI said in its clarification.
All food business operators have been directed to remove the word “ORS” from their products immediately.
For years, the word “ORS” was being used in the brand names of beverages, often high in sugar. These products were routinely sold to patients prescribed ORS, worsening dehydration and associated health complications.
In April 2022, FSSAI first issued an order restricting the use of “ORS” on drinks that did not conform to the WHO-recommended formula. This was intended to prevent misleading claims that could confuse consumers.
However, in July 2022, the restriction was reversed. Food businesses were allowed to use “ORS” in product names as part of trademarks, provided they included the disclaimer, “This product is NOT an ORS formula as recommended by WHO.”
The order was reinforced in February 2024, allowing its use with prefixes or suffixes under similar conditions.
While Tuesday’s order withdrew these previous permissions, some media reports have misinterpreted it as allowing unrestricted use of “ORS.”
To clarify, FSSAI’s notice on Wednesday made it clear that any use of “ORS,” standalone or in combination with other words, constitutes misbranding and is punishable under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
FSSAI’s clarification is a crucial regulatory step that is the result of various public and legal campaigns to stop the misuse of the “ORS” label by several beverage and pharmaceutical companies to the detriment of unwitting patients.
Among them is Dr Shivaranjani Santosh, Senior Paediatrician, first aid trainer, and social activist from Hyderabad, who has been leading the fight for nearly eight years.
She described the FSSAI’s latest notices as “a people’s victory.”
“On 8th April 2022, the first order prohibited the use of ‘ORS’ on drinks that didn’t meet WHO standards. But in July, it was reversed. We didn’t give up. We filed a PIL, rallied support from doctors, paediatricians, mums, and the community. Everyone came together, and the awareness grew. Finally, FSSAI made it clear,” she told South First.
“‘ORS’ is essentially a medical formulation. It should only be used with permission by the authorities. This clarification ensures consumers are not misled by commercial products.”
She urged all food business operators to comply immediately with labelling and advertising rules.
“This is a victory not just for regulatory compliance, but for public awareness and health safety. People’s voices really made a difference,” she added.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
