FSSAI orders instant elimination of deceptive ORS-labelled drinks from markets, e-commerce platforms

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has directed State and Union Territory Food Safety Authorities to right away take away from sale all fruit-based drinks, ready-to-serve drinks, power drinks, electrolyte drinks, and related merchandise which are being marketed utilizing the time period ORS of their model names or product names.

In a regulatory order dated November 19, the FSSAI stated a number of producers proceed to promote merchandise labelled as ‘ORS’ regardless of earlier instructions issued on October 14 and 15 that prohibited using the time period in model names or as prefixes or suffixes for meals merchandise. The authority underscored that using ‘ORS’ on this method violates provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, as a result of the time period is related completely with WHO-recommended Oral Rehydration Salts, that are drug merchandise.

The October directives had been issued after an eight-year effort by Hyderabad-based paediatrician Dr. Sivaranjani Santosh, who has been campaigning in opposition to main pharmaceutical firms for promoting sugar-heavy drinks disguised as ORS.

The regulator famous that such deceptive merchandise are nonetheless accessible in grocery shops, fashionable stores, and throughout main e-commerce platforms. Concerns had been raised that customers might confuse these drinks with legit ORS formulations supposed for the administration of dehydration.

To curb the follow, FSSAI has instructed Designated Officers and Field Officers to start instant verification and inspection drives throughout retail shops and on-line marketplaces. Officials have been requested to establish non-compliant merchandise utilizing the time period ‘ORS’, guarantee their immediate elimination from sale, and provoke regulatory motion in opposition to the meals enterprise operators accountable. Authorities have additionally been directed to submit an in depth Action Taken Report itemizing inspections, violations, corrective steps, and product removals.

The order additionally recorded cases of Food Safety Officers appearing in opposition to real WHO-recommended ORS merchandise. FSSAI clarified that its earlier instructions utilized solely to deceptive meals and beverage merchandise and don’t regulate or prohibit the manufacture or sale of legit ORS, which falls underneath the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. The authority reaffirmed that WHO-recommended ORS is a drug product and should not be subjected to sampling, seizure, or enforcement motion supposed for meals commodities.