FSSAI bans use of ‘ORS’ on food and beverage labels

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has prohibited the use of the term “ORS” on any food or beverage product label, including as part of a brand name or trademark. The regulator said such use violates provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and can mislead consumers.

In its latest order, FSSAI directed all food business operators to remove the word “ORS” from their products, whether used as a standalone term or with any prefix, suffix, or trademark. The regulator stated that such labelling and naming practices are “false, deceptive, ambiguous, and misleading” to consumers.

The order also withdraws two earlier directives issued in July 2022 and February 2024, which had permitted companies to use “ORS” in brand names provided they carried a declaration stating that the product was “NOT an ORS formula as recommended by WHO.” Those relaxations have now been revoked with immediate effect.

FSSAI clarified that the use of “ORS” in naming fruit-based, non-carbonated, or ready-to-drink beverages will not be permitted under any circumstances. The authority has asked companies to ensure strict compliance with labelling and advertising regulations under the Food Safety and Standards Act.

The development follows a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Hyderabad-based paediatrician Dr. Sivaranjani Santosh in the Telangana High Court in 2022. The petition challenged the sale of drinks labelled as “ORS” that did not meet the composition recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). She has been fighting the battle for about eight years, having written directly to health minister JP Nadda and the Prime Minister raising the issue.

According to WHO, Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) must contain precise concentrations of sodium, potassium, chloride, citrate, and glucose to effectively treat dehydration caused by diarrhoea. Several tetra pack drinks marketed as ORS or electrolyte beverages sold at pharmacies reportedly did not meet these standards.

Responding to CNBC-TV18, a Cipla Health spokesperson said its Prolyte ORS product is a WHO-recommended Oral Rehydration Solution and welcomed FSSAI’s decision, saying it would help bring greater transparency to the market."

At Cipla Health, we are championing everyday wellness solutions by bringing exactly what our consumers need. Our leading brand Prolyte ORS, which is a WHO-recommended Oral Rehydration Solution, is a unique ORS offering that provides rehydration without compromising on taste through our 10 unique flavours."It added that as the second-largest players in the category, we welcome the recent FSSAI guidelines that will help bring further transparency to the market and ensure that safe and effective rehydration formulations are available.

FSSAI first issued directions in April 2022 against misleading advertisements and marketing of “ORS substitute” products. The latest order strengthens those measures by banning the use of the term “ORS” on all food and beverage products that do not meet WHO-recommended formulation standards.