FSSAI Cracks Down on Mislabelled ORS Drinks, Asks Retailers to Pull Them Off Shelves

Stepping up its enforcement against misleading health claims, India’s top food regulator has launched a nationwide drive to pull dozens of fruit-based beverages, electrolyte drinks, energy drinks, and ready-to-serve products that have been falsely marketed using the term “ORS”. The move follows growing concern that many beverages were borrowing the credibility of medical-grade Oral Rehydration Solution despite lacking the scientifically approved formulation.

In a directive issued on November 19, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) instructed all state and Union Territory food commissioners to immediately clear shelves—both online and offline—of drinks that misuse the “ORS” label. The order came after officials noticed that such products continued to be sold even after earlier warnings, violating the regulator’s October instructions.

Background: What Triggered the Crackdown?

Just last month, on October 14, FSSAI had already directed all food business operators to completely stop using the term “ORS” in branding, labelling, or advertising unless the product genuinely met the WHO-recommended ORS formulation. The regulator made it clear that even adding prefixes or suffixes to the term—such as “Super ORS”, “Fruit ORS”, or “Hydra-ORS”—still counted as misbranding under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

The October order also revoked two earlier advisories from July 2022 and February 2024, which had temporarily allowed the use of the “ORS” label as long as the packaging stated that the drink was not a WHO-standard ORS. After reviewing the impact, FSSAI concluded this leniency was being exploited and causing consumer confusion.

What FSSAI Has Now Ordered

The latest directive is firm and leaves no room for ambiguity:

• Food companies must stop using “ORS” on any beverage labels or brand names unless the drink matches the exact ORS composition prescribed by WHO.

• The ban applies to every variation of the term, whether it appears on fruit-based drinks, non-carbonated beverages, energy drinks, or electrolyte mixes.

• State inspectors have been instructed to remove all such products from supermarkets, pharmacy shelves, convenience stores, and e-commerce listings.

• FSSAI reiterated that only medically appropriate ORS solutions can legally carry that label, and anything else will be treated as a misbranded product.

In the words of the regulator’s October clarification, “upon further examination, it has been decided that using the term ‘ORS’—whether on its own or combined with any additional wording—in the trademark or name of any food or beverage violates the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, along with the related regulations”.

Why This Matters for Consumers

• FSSAI’s move is driven by concerns over both public health and consumer protection:

• Actual health risks: True ORS contains a precise ratio of glucose and salts designed to treat dehydration effectively. Many so-called “ORS drinks” currently on the market contain excessive sugar and could worsen dehydration rather than resolve it.

• Misleading marketing: Several brands were using “ORS” as a marketing tool, making ordinary flavored drinks appear as if they were therapeutic hydration products.

• Confusion for families: Parents, caregivers, and ordinary shoppers often assumed these beverages were medical-grade solutions, which in emergencies can lead to incorrect treatment choices.

The push for stricter regulation gained momentum thanks to persistent campaigning by Dr. Sivaranjani Santosh, a Hyderabad-based pediatrician. She raised alarms for years about high-sugar drinks being presented as ORS alternatives, warning that the trend was unsafe for children and misleading for caregivers. Her advocacy played a significant role in prompting FSSAI to tighten the rules.