&imwidth=800&imheight=600&format=webp&quality=medium "FSSAI orders nationwide sweep to pull fake ORS drinks from stores and apps. Here's what it means")
India’s food regulator has cracked down again on drinks that misuse the term ORS. On Wednesday (Nov 20), the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) ordered an immediate sweep of retail stores and e-commerce platforms to pull fruit-based beverages, energy drinks, electrolyte drinks and ready-to-serve products that carry ORS in their brand names.
What did the FSSAI say?
India's food authority noted that companies continue to sell such drinks despite clear instructions issued in mid-October. On October 14, FSSAI barred all food and beverage makers from using the term in any form, whether as a brand name, prefix or suffix. A clarification the next day left no room for exceptions, stating that ORS cannot appear on any food or drink label unless the product meets the World Health Organisation’s strict standards for oral rehydration solutions.
FSSAI said the continued sale of these products violates the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. To clamp down on it, the regulator has directed state and central officers to begin immediate inspections of online marketplaces and physical stores. Any drink found using ORS in its name must be removed at once, and regulatory action against the company must be taken. Officers must also submit detailed reports on violations and the status of product removal.
FSSAI stressed that enforcement should focus only on non-compliant food and drink products. It told officers not to interfere with the manufacturing, storage or sale of legitimate ORS drug formulations that follow WHO recommendations.
Trending Stories
)
The Royals enter the Doctor Who universe: King Charles and Queen Camilla beam into Commonwealth Games in TARDIS
)
Commonwealth Games 2026: Gurindervir Singh crashes out of men's 100m heats despite record-breaking season
)
'Agitation cannot justify lathi-charge': CJI Surya Kant's BIG response to police brutality against protesting students
)
India avoids higher US tariff, secures lower 10% rate. Here's how
)
Hidden in British archives: Scientists decode 200-year-old Indian scroll that helped sailors cross one of the world's toughest seas
)
He predicted COVID-19 and 2008 economic crisis, was labeled fearmonger. Now he has another dire warning
)
'House raided, father picked up': UP man Mohd Junaid alleges crackdown after CJP protest; Police deny claims
)
Trump's latest rant is about a 'massive television outage' that never happened
)
Putin rambles in TV speech after cancelling Navy Day parade fearing an attack by Ukraine
)
RSS backed Jantar Mantar student protest? Mohan Bhagwat's 'question authority' remark resurfaces
)
ChatGPT invoked God, told pastor not to worry about his symptoms. Then pulmonary embolism hit
)
NEET Protests riddled with misinformation? Delhi Police blocks 480 Pakistan-based handles spreading 'fake news' since Operation Sindoor
)
Delhi Police issues BIG statement on viral 'don't leave national capital without permission' notice | FACT CHECK
)
'They’re afraid right now...': Netanyahu reacts for first time after Mamdani threatens arrest over ICC warrant
)
Trump says Iranian school bombing photos could be AI-generated - 'I don’t think...'
)
Google ends Play Services Support, likely to stop these Android phones from downloading apps & games
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
New OTT releases this week (July 27-August 2, 2026): The Devil Wears Prada 2, Batman, Demon Slayer- 5 titles coming on Netflix, Prime Video and more
)
Spain: Fresh wildfires break out in Valencia
)
US says Turkey still barred from F-35 program until it gives up Russian S-400 system: Report
)
Will Iran war last months or even years? Here's what new poll shows about what most Americans think
)
Bihar wants 'backless Saturday’ in govt schools as official notice misspells 'bagless'
)
'Broader struggle for democracy...': Greta Thunberg joins Indian students protest in London - What she said
)
'We didn't stop them...: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's first reaction on student protests
)
'Won't go unanswered': Will the Ukrainian attacks on Caspian Sea vessels lead to the convergence of the Iran war and the Russia-Ukraine war?
)
What does the Gen Z protest and Pradhan's resignation as education minister mean for India's ruling BJP, and four other questions, answered
)
What we know about Seattle mass shooting: 3 dead, suspect arrested and one at large
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why the specialized paint on an S-400 costs thousands of dollars per truck
)
India's foreign ministry debunks viral claim made during last week's protests
Also read | Bengaluru’s own Louvre heist? How a fake RBI crew stole ₹7.11 crore in 30 mins, that too in broad daylight
Why does an ORS label matter?
The dispute earlier also played out in court. On October 31, the Delhi High Court declined to interfere with FSSAI’s restrictions, noting that counterfeit or misleading ORS labelled beverages pose a serious risk to public health. A bench said consumer safety outweighs any commercial concerns and indicated that a full judgment would be issued later.
The case stemmed from a petition by Dr Reddy’s Laboratories challenging the ban. FSSAI has maintained that ORS is a medical formulation, not a marketing term, and can only be used for products that meet WHO’s composition standards for treating dehydration.
