In Tamil Nadu, ORSL and other similar “ORS energy drink” products were still being sold over the counter when South First visited.
Published Oct 28, 2025 | 11:46 AM ⚊ Updated Oct 28, 2025 | 11:48 AM
ORS and ORSL being simultaneously sold in Chennai pharmacies. Credit: Veni EN
Synopsis: Amid regulatory battles over misleading oral rehydration products, South Indian pharmacies continue selling ORSL—a sweetened JNTL beverage—when customers request ORS, prioritising old stock clearance. The Delhi High Court stayed FSSAI’s ORS branding ban on 19 October, but FSSAI clarified no sale permission. While some pharmacies stock only WHO-recommended ORS, others, especially in Bengaluru and Tamil Nadu, still dispense ORSL.
Amid the ongoing regulatory tussle over misleading oral rehydration products, some pharmacies across South India continue to sell ORSL, a sweetened beverage made by JNTL Consumer Health (India), when customers ask for oral rehydration solution (ORS), instead of the WHO-recommended rehydration formula. Others, however, have begun taking note of the controversy and now stock only the WHO-recommended rehydration formula.
On 19 October, the Delhi High Court granted interim protection to JNTL Consumer Health, staying the operation of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) orders that barred the use of the term “ORS” in beverage branding.
The ruling followed years of regulatory back-and-forth over what constitutes a legitimate oral rehydration solution.
However, the FSSAI also later clarified that it had not “permitted the disposal or sale of ORSL.” “It is being WRONGLY claimed in some social media posts that FSSAI has ‘permitted the disposal or sale of ORSL.’ It is also being WRONGLY claimed that FSSAI has given consent for the same,” the food safety regulator stated. The JNTL has been given time to make representation against orders of the FSSAI within a week.
Against the backdrop of this legal battle, SouthFirst visited some pharmacies in South India to check which products were being offered to customers when asked for ORS.
In Bengaluru, several pharmacies admitted they were still selling ORSL, as they did not have stock of the WHO-recommended drink.
At one such pharmacy in Frazer Town, the pharmacist told SouthFirst on the condition of anonymity that customers have not expressed a specific preference for the WHO-recommended ORS. “We have been asked to clear existing stock of ORSL so we offer that first,” the pharmacist said.
JNTL had earlier argued that the FSSAI’s directive prohibiting the use of “ORS” in beverage branding came without prior notice or consultation, impacting existing stock worth around ₹180 crore.
What Bengaluru pharmacies are offering when asked for ORS. Credit: Anisha Reddy
At another pharmacy in the city, staff initially handed over an ORSL bottle when asked for ORS and offered the WHO-recommended variant only when specifically requested. Here too, the pharmacist cited instructions of clearing up existing stock of ORSL.
Meanwhile, the product is still available on quick-commerce platforms like Blinkit and Big Basket.
On the other hand, two pharmacies in Hyderabad that SouthFirst visited did not have ORSL. One of the pharmacists told SouthFirst that ORSL sells well during the summer months, between March and July.
“We usually sell around 25–30 packets a day then. When customers ask for ORS, we offer Electral or other brands, but since ORSL bottles are kept in the fridge and are more visible, people tend to choose those. Right now, fresh stock hasn’t arrived yet,” the pharmacist said.
When asked about the FSSAI order, he added, “We heard about it in the news, apparently, a doctor from Hyderabad fought for it. But if such an order comes, it is up to the company to stop supply.” He further said that the pharmacy only stocks products that they receive and the customers pick what they want.
Meanwhile, in Tamil Nadu, ORSL and other similar “ORS energy drink” products were still being sold over the counter when SouthFirst visited. At Apollo Pharmacy in Kasturba Nagar, Adyar, the staff initially handed over an ORSL bottle when asked for ORS.
However, the store manager soon intervened, acknowledging the ongoing issue surrounding such products. “These drinks have now been banned. We are aware of it and are not selling them anymore,” he said, while replacing the drink with a WHO-recommended ORS packet.
When asked about the earlier sale, another staff member explained that the remaining bottles were part of old stock. “We still have a few bottles left from before the ban and we will stop selling them,” the staff said.
In newer pharmacies, the problem of clearing up old stock of ORSL doesn’t arise. In one such pharmacy in Adyar, the owner, Niwin Pharma Distributor said the pharmacy began operations only two months ago and has been aware of the ongoing ORS–ORSL issue from the beginning.
“Since we are a new pharmacy, we started stocking only the standard ORS formulations right from the start. We don’t have the burden of clearing any old stock, so we have been selling only ORS products,” he said.
However, at Apollo Pharmacy in Kasturba Nagar, bottles of ORSL and other “ORS energy drink” variants were still stocked inside the refrigerated display cooler, alongside regular beverages like soft drinks and juice bottles.
On the other hand, in Kerala, several pharmacies only stocked the WHO-approved drink. The All Kerala Chemists and Druggists Association explained that the sale of ORS is comparatively low in the state. “ORS is mostly sold in northern India and in states like Andhra Pradesh and Telangana where there is intense heat. But here (in Kerala) there is no such scenario,” a representative from the association told SouthFirst.
They further said that cases of diarrhoea and dysentery, the main conditions for which ORS is typically used, are low in Kerala. “Even if such cases occur, people tend to seek hospital care where intravenous drip is mostly used. The sale of ORS is also comparatively low in the state,” the representative said.
A post on social media platform X called out the availability of ORSL in pharmacies despite the FSSAI’s warning on fake, high-sugar products that do not abide by WHO formulation standards.
“People don’t have much knowledge, so they may end up buying ORSL instead of ORS. Why is this kind of misleading product still available in the market?” the user asked.
I went to a medical store.
I asked for ORS.
He gave me ORSL.
I said, “This is not ORS.”
He said, “Ok, keep it aside, I’ll give you another.”
Then he gave me the original ORS.People don’t have much knowledge, so they may end up buying ORSL instead of ORS. Why is this kind of… pic.twitter.com/980dZk9Wxc
— Nalini Unagar (@NalinisKitchen) October 25, 2025
(With inputs from Dileep V Kumar in Kerala, Sumit Jha in Hyderabad, Veni EN in Chennai)
