Hidden Sugar in Your ORS? Hyderabad Doc’s Epic Fight Forces Nationwide Ban

In a landmark move for public health, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued an order restricting the use of “Oral Rehydration Salts” or “ORS” labels on any product unless it strictly adheres to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommended formula. The directive, issued on October 14, aims to prevent consumer confusion and revoke prior approvals of misleading products, effectively ending the era of disclaimers like “This isn’t real ORS.”

The decision comes after years of advocacy by Dr. Sivaranjani Santosh, a Hyderabad-based child specialist, who first challenged high-sugar drinks marketed as ORS back in 2015. Her public interest litigation in the Telangana High Court in 2022 highlighted the dangers posed by commercial beverages that contain sugar levels up to ten times higher than the WHO-recommended formula, turning a life-saving remedy into a health risk.

The WHO Standard vs. Commercial Misrepresentation

According to WHO specifications for home-based hydration, ORS should contain:

• Dextrose (sugar): 13.5g per litre

• Sodium chloride: 2.6g

• Potassium chloride: 1.5g

• Sodium citrate: 2.9g

• Total osmolality: 245 mOsm/L

Many flavored “ORS” drinks sold on supermarket shelves far exceed these sugar levels, posing a risk of compounding dehydration rather than alleviating it.

A Decade-Long Battle for Consumer Safety

“This is not just my battle—it’s India’s victory,” said a teary-eyed Dr. Santosh, thanking doctors, activists, mothers, and social influencers who supported her eight-year fight against misleading labeling and regulatory inaction.

The FSSAI, acting under the Food Safety Act, 2006, now classifies such deceptive labeling as “misleading and erroneous.” Families nationwide are urged to rely on real ORS formulas to ensure safe hydration during diarrhea, fever, or dehydration episodes.

This ruling marks a critical step in restoring public trust, reinforcing that true health begins with transparency and adherence to scientifically validated standards.