Hyderabad doctor in tears as FSSAI bans misleading ‘ORS’ labels after 10-year fight | VIDEO

New Delhi/Hyderabad: Hyderabad-based paediatrician Dr Sivaranjani Santosh has drawn widespread praise for her emotional response to the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India’s (FSSAI) recent directive banning the misuse of the term “ORS” on food and beverage products. In a heartfelt Instagram video shared shortly after the announcement, she said through tears, “We have won it.”

A long-time advocate for the safe use of Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS), Dr Sivaranjani Santosh has campaigned for nearly a decade to raise awareness about misleading marketing practices by brands labelling non-medical beverages as “ORS” without proper clinical backing. Her advocacy focused on the risks such mislabelling posed, especially to children during episodes of diarrhoea or dehydration.

The new FSSAI directive, issued yesterday, marks a significant step in response to these concerns. It mandates that no food product—fruit-based, non-carbonated, or ready-to-drink beverages—may use the term “ORS” in its name or trademark, regardless of any prefix or suffix, unless it conforms to standards recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).

“The use of the term 'ORS' in the trademarked name or in the naming of any food product otherwise — even when accompanied by a prefix or suffix — constitutes a violation of the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006,” FSSAI said in an official statement.

Previously, some products were allowed to use the term with a disclaimer stating, “This product is NOT an ORS formula as recommended by WHO.” That exemption has now been revoked.

According to the authority, such branding misleads consumers with “false, deceptive, ambiguous, and erroneous” label claims. Under the revised rule, these products will now be deemed misbranded and misleading, inviting punitive action under Sections 52 and 53 of the Food Safety and Standards Act.

The FSSAI has instructed all State and Union Territory Commissioners of Food Safety, along with Central Licensing Authorities, to ensure strict and immediate compliance, with enforcement action to be taken against violators.

Her video has since resonated with parents and medical professionals alike, with many crediting her for consistently calling attention to the risks posed by improperly labelled ORS alternatives. The move is seen not only as a regulatory milestone but also as a public health victory—especially for paediatric care.

“The goal is to ensure only safe and effective products are available to those in need,” she said, underlining that misleading products “put children at risk” during critical moments.

The directive, experts say, reinforces the importance of accurate labelling and highlights the FSSAI’s commitment to public safety amid growing concerns around deceptive food marketing.