FSSAI Orders Immediate Removal of Drinks Misusing the Term ‘ORS’

In a major regulatory action, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has directed all states and Union Territories to immediately remove from sale a range of beverages that are wrongly using the term “ORS” on their labels. These include fruit drinks, ready to drink beverages, electrolyte drinks, and similar products being marketed in a misleading manner. This enforcement instruction was issued on November 19, following earlier orders released on October 14 and 15, where FSSAI had clearly withdrawn permission for the use of the term “ORS” whether alone or with variations in food and beverage branding. Despite this, many companies reportedly continued selling such products across online marketplaces, retail stores, pharmacies, and supermarkets in violation of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

Inspection Drives and Enforcement Action

To stop this misleading practice, FSSAI has asked food safety departments across states and UTs to conduct immediate inspections and verification drives. Officials have been instructed to check markets, identify products violating the regulation, remove them from sale without delay, and initiate necessary legal action against responsible businesses. Authorities must also send a detailed compliance report to FSSAI, mentioning inspections carried out, violations detected, actions taken, and the status of product withdrawal.

Clarification: Genuine Medical ORS Must Not Be Removed

FSSAI has issued an important clarification to prevent confusion during enforcement. The order does not apply to genuine WHO-recommended Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS) products used in medical treatment. These formulations are considered drugs under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, and are essential for treating dehydration and diarrhoeal conditions. Therefore, medical ORS sold in pharmacies must not be checked, seized, or removed, as they do not fall under FSSAI’s regulatory control.

Crackdown Focuses Only on Misleading Food and Beverage Products

The regulator noted cases where genuine ORS medicines were mistakenly targeted during earlier inspections. To avoid further errors, FSSAI clarified that the enforcement drive applies only to non-medical beverages falsely presenting themselves as ORS, creating confusion among consumers. The regulator emphasized that mislabeling can put public health at risk by making consumers believe such drinks provide the same therapeutic benefit as medical ORS, which is not the case.

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