The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on Wednesday directed the immediate removal of fruit-based beverages, ready-to-serve drinks, energy drinks, electrolyte drinks, and similar products that use the term “ORS” in their brand or product names. The authority noted that such products continue to be sold in retail stores and on e-commerce platforms despite earlier orders restricting the use of “ORS” for these drinks.
The order stated, “Immediate removal of misleading & deceptively electrolyte drinks & “ORS” either a single word or with prefix or suffix as the composite word term beverages, Ready-to-serve/ Drink In beverages, named product name containing from various retail outlets,e-commerce platforms, etc.”
Strict Enforcement Measures Laid Out
FSSAI referred to its previous orders from October 14 and the clarification issued on October 15, which stated that no food product, whether fruit-based, non-carbonated, or ready-to-drink, can use the term “ORS” in the trademarked name or in any form, including as a prefix or suffix. Using the term in this manner violates the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
To enforce compliance, FSSAI instructed officers to carry out immediate inspections across retail and online platforms to identify non-compliant products using the “ORS” label. “If found, these products must be removed from sale, and regulatory action must be taken against the companies involved,” the authority stated. Officers are also required to submit detailed action reports listing inspections, violations, and the status of product removals.
WHO-Approved ORS Products Exempt
FSSAI emphasized that enforcement should not interfere with the storage, distribution, or sale of WHO-recommended ORS drug products. Only non-compliant food items falsely using the term “ORS” are subject to action.
Earlier, on October 31, the Delhi High Court refused to intervene in FSSAI’s order prohibiting the use of “ORS” on beverages. The bench observed that counterfeit or misleading ORS-labeled products pose a serious public health risk. “Public health must take precedence over commercial considerations,” the court noted, adding that a detailed judgment will follow.
The observation came during a petition challenging FSSAI’s notification barring the manufacture and sale of drinks bearing the expression “ORS” (Oral Rehydration Solution) in brand names or trademarks. FSSAI had clarified earlier that the term “ORS” is reserved only for formulations meeting World Health Organisation (WHO) standards for oral rehydration solutions.