The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued a strict directive prohibiting the sale of any product labelled as Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS) unless it strictly adheres to the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) recommended formula.
Issued on October 14, the order makes it clear that food companies cannot market or sell drinks misleadingly branded as ORS. “No misleading products with ORS can be sold anymore. The battle is won,” said Dr. Sivaranjani Santosh, a paediatrician who has been actively campaigning against false ORS labelling, in an Instagram post.
Why is ORS vital?
ORS is a simple, life-saving mix of sugar, salt, and clean water used to treat dehydration from diarrhoea, vomiting, or heat. Its effectiveness depends on the presence of glucose, which enables proper absorption of salts and water in the body.
Dr. Santosh pointed out that several Indian brands have been selling drinks under the ORS label without glucose. “If the formula changes, it will not work,” she warned.
What led to the ban?
FSSAI had earlier issued an advisory in April 2022 to stop misleading advertisements promoting beverages as ORS substitutes. The new directive reinforces that flavoured or electrolyte drinks cannot be marketed as medical ORS.
The correct WHO-approved ORS formula
- 6 teaspoons of sugar
- ½ teaspoon of salt
- 1 litre of clean water
Doctors caution that adding extra ingredients like fruit powders, herbs, or spirulina—or altering sugar and salt quantities—can make the solution ineffective.
How to identify genuine ORS
- Check the label: It must match the WHO formula.
- Avoid sugar substitutes: Sweeteners like stevia or monk fruit are not allowed.
- Skip added ingredients: Genuine ORS contains only salt, sugar, and water.
- Buy from pharmacies: WHO-approved sachets are pre-measured and safe.
- Rely on doctors: Follow medical advice, not social media influencers.
Doctors emphasize that while flavoured electrolyte drinks may seem convenient, only WHO-approved ORS is medically effective—especially when treating children.