Context: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued a directive prohibiting the use of the term ‘Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS)’ on any food or beverage product that does not meet the World Health Organization (WHO)-approved formulation.
This move aims to curb misleading marketing practices where some beverage companies label sugary drinks as “ORS,” deceiving consumers and posing potential health risks.
About the Directive
- Legal Basis: Issued under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, which empowers FSSAI to regulate and enforce food labelling and safety standards.
- Misbranding Clause: Products using the term “ORS” without approval will be treated as misbranded or misleading advertisements, punishable under the Act.
- Objective: To ensure that only clinically validated and WHO-compliant formulations are sold as ORS in India.
About FSSAI
- Established: 2008, under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
- Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
- Mandate: To lay down science-based standards for food articles and regulate their manufacture, storage, distribution, and sale to ensure food safety.
About Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS)
- Purpose: ORS is a scientifically formulated solution used to treat dehydration resulting from diarrhoea, vomiting, or heat stress.
- WHO-Approved Composition:
Sodium chloride, glucose, potassium chloride, and trisodium citrate — in precise proportions to optimize absorption. - Mechanism: The glucose–sodium co-transport mechanism in the intestines facilitates the absorption of electrolytes and water, restoring hydration efficiently.
- Health Significance:
- Recognized as one of the most important medical advances for preventing child mortality due to diarrhoea.
- Must not be confused with general energy or electrolyte drinks, which often contain excessive sugar and inadequate electrolyte balance.
Significance of the Ban
- Consumer Protection: Prevents the sale of unscientific and misleading products claiming medical properties.
- Public Health Safety: Safeguards vulnerable populations, especially children, from consuming high-sugar products mislabelled as ORS.
- Regulatory Strengthening: Reinforces India’s compliance with WHO and UNICEF standards for rehydration therapy.
Conclusion
The FSSAI’s regulation marks a vital step in ensuring evidence-based labelling and consumer protection. By limiting the ‘ORS’ tag to scientifically verified formulations, India upholds both medical integrity and public health priorities.