Hyderabad-based paediatrician Dr Sivaranjani Santosh has criticised the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) for allegedly permitting the disposal and sale of high-sugar “ORSL” products, calling the situation a “shame” and asking how such a decision could be approved. However, FSSAI has denied the claims, saying it has not authorised the sale or disposal of any ORSL stocks.

‘Had FSSAI not agreed…,’ says Hyderabad doctor

In a video on X (formerly Twitter), Dr Santosh alleged that the company selling ORSL has managed to get a stay order with the consent of FSSAI. “It’s a shame,” she expressed, before adding, “Why do we suffer in silence? If the same thing happened in the US, the company selling ORS would have been slapped with millions of lawsuits. And here, it managed to get a stay order with the consent of FSSAI. It’s a shame. A stay order to dispose of its stock. It’s high-sugar ORSL. How are we allowing this to happen?”

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Alongside the video, she wrote, “…FSSAI has consented to the request by JNTL (the Indian subsidiary of Kenvue, which is a spin-off of Johnson and Johnson) for a stay order to dispose of its stock of high sugar ORSL!”

The paediatrician urged the Modi government to ensure that no sachet or tetra pack that does not follow the WHO-recommended ORS formula is allowed to be sold.

“Not only now, in future also, except the WHO-recommended formula ORS, no sachet or tetrapack should be allowed in the pharmacies (including online), hospitals, and schools, as far as rehydrating medicines are concerned. ORS should never be allowed to be used on the labels except for the WHO Recommended Formula ORS, even if these liquids are being sold in the supermarkets and quick commerce platforms only!”

She also urged PM Modi and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW) to ensure that the October 15th order is “implemented with urgency”. 

In a follow-up post, she clarified that her concern is specifically with misleading labels claiming to be “compliant with WHO-recommended ORS formula.”

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“The 17th Oct stay was issued based on an agreement between JNTL and FSSAI(Union of India) that JNTL will submit a representation in a weeks timeand that the 15th Oct order will be on hold till the said representation is decided,” she wrote in a post on X, stressing that it is unfair and that “FSSAI shouldn’t have agreed for it”.

She went on to claim, “Had FSSAI not agreed, the court may not have disposed of the petition with the stay order.” 

‘Misrepresentation of facts’: FSSAI 

India’s food regulator, FSSAI, has refuted her claims in a statement. 

“It is being wrongly claimed in some social media posts that FSSAI has permitted the disposal or sale of ORSL,” read a statement titled “misrepresentation of facts” from FSSAI. 

The statement added, “It is also being wrongly claimed that FSSAI has given consent for the same. The Hon’ble Court’s order may be seen on the website in case no. W.P.(C) 16217/2025.”

It is to be noted that FSSAI has banned the naming of a food product “ORS” unless it’s based on the formula recommended by WHO.

“All food business operators are directed to remove the word “ORS” from their food products, whether used as a standalone term or in combination with any prefix/suffix or as part of the trademark with prefix/suffix in the product name and to ensure strict compliance with the labelling and advertisement requirements prescribed under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and the regulations framed thereunder,” read the order.