The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued a new rule stating that no product can be labeled as Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS) unless it has been approved by the World Health Organization (WHO). This directive was announced on Tuesday and aims to prevent misuse of the term “ORS” on products that are not genuine ORS solutions.

What is ORS?

According to UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund), ORS is a mixture of salt and sugar that is dissolved in clean water to treat dehydration. Dehydration can happen due to severe diarrhoea, heat stroke, or other illnesses that cause a loss of fluids.

ORS is considered a highly effective treatment, especially for children suffering from diarrhoea. Health experts, including American health website Healthline, recommend that ORS should only be used as prescribed by a doctor. Using it incorrectly can lead to salt toxicity, which can be harmful.

Old rules on ORS labeling

Earlier, the government allowed companies to use the word “ORS” in their brand names as a prefix or suffix. These rules, issued on July 14, 2022, and February 2, 2024, permitted companies to use the term on products such as fruit drinks, non-carbonated drinks, and ready-to-drink beverages. However, the products had to carry a warning stating: “The product is not an ORS formula as recommended by the WHO.”

New rules 

The FSSAI has now cancelled these previous orders. From now on, only products that meet the WHO-recommended formula can be called ORS. No company can sell or label a product as ORS unless it is approved by WHO.

Paediatrician Dr. Sivaranjani Santosh praised the move on Instagram. She said, “No one can use ORS on their label unless it is a WHO-recommended formula, and no one can sell it right from today.” Dr. Santosh has been campaigning against mislabelled ORS products and thanked all parents, doctors, journalists, and others who supported the cause.

This step by FSSAI is aimed at protecting consumers, especially children, from misleading products and ensuring that ORS solutions are safe and effective for treating dehydration.