In a major step, FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) has prohibited the naming of a food product ‘ORS’ unless it’s based on the formula recommended by WHO.
Diarrhoea, the third leading cause of childhood mortality in India, can be managed effectively with ORS. However, many pharmacies across the country sold products labeled as electrolyte products but did not meet the guidelines recommended by the WHO.
The new order has been issued on October 14 and clearly mentions how the term could be used by Food Business Operators.
What the order says
“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.
FSSAI had earlier taken a step in April 2022 to stop misleading advertising around ‘ORS substitutes’ products. Many consumers ended up buying flavoured drinks or beverages that didn’t match the formula of WHO-approved ORS, posing a serious health threat to those suffering from diarrhoea.
The earlier order had permitted the use of the term “ORS” on food labels as part of the trademark with prefix or suffix in the product name, subject to the declaration or warning – “The product is NOT an ORS formula as recommended by WHO.”
Hyderabad-based paediatrician celebrates
“They can not only not use ORS, but they also cannot sell it from today, right now. No misleading products with ORS can be sold. We have won the battle. We have won it. They cannot sell them anymore,” said Hyderabad-based paediatrician Dr Sivaranjani Santosh, who has been campaigning against mislabeled ORS brands, in an Instagram post.
Dr Sivaranjani earlier told The Hindu, that during diarrhoea, high-sugar drinks should be avoided because excess sugar can worsen the condition.
“When ORSL was introduced, manufacturers met with paediatricians, leading many to believe it was ORS. But in reality, the sugar content in ORSL is as high as in packaged soft/fruit drinks, with only a little extra sodium. We noticed that many children’s diarrhoea worsened. When we investigated we realised ORSL is not the same as ORS,” she said.
Why WHO recommends ORS
Dehydration from diarrhoea can be prevented by giving extra fluids at home, or it can be treated simply, effectively, and cheaply. However, in case of severe cases, Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS) solution is recommended for treatment.
ORS is made by mixing six teaspoons of sugar and half a teaspoon of salt into one liter of clean water and stirring until dissolved.