Archive · 10 Nov 2025
India Faces Debate on Rehydration Drinks Labeled as ORS
Imagine you have a tummy ache with diarrhea, and you lose a lot of water from your body.
Doctors have a special drink called ORS, which has the right mix of sugar and salt to help your body get water back.
But some companies make drinks that look like ORS but have way too much sugar.
These sugary drinks can actually make diarrhea worse, especially for little kids.
Now, people in India are talking about this and going to court to figure out what companies can call their drinks.
The government's food safety team is involved, and they want to make sure drinks are safe and help people get better, not sicker.
It's important to use the right kind of ORS or just plain water when you're not feeling well.
Pediatricians have raised concerns that some widely marketed rehydration drinks, labeled as ORS, contain high sugar levels that can worsen diarrhea.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has addressed this issue, leading to legal challenges from industry representatives, with the Delhi High Court clarifying its stance.
ORS is a therapeutic intervention designed to treat dehydration and restore electrolyte balance, with its original composition modified by WHO and UNICEF to reduce osmolarity and sugar content.
Several 'rehydration fluids' or 'electrolyte drinks' are sold alongside genuine WHO-ORS formulations and may not conform to the specified composition.
There is a growing market for ORS and rehydration drinks in India and globally, highlighting the need for dialogue and consensus on regulations to protect public health.
- Who
- Pediatricians, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), industry representatives, and the Delhi High Court.
- What
- Debate and legal challenges surrounding the labeling and composition of rehydration drinks, particularly those marketed as Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS).
- When
- Over the last fortnight, with ongoing legal proceedings and market data from recent years.
- Where
- India.
- Why
- Concerns raised by pediatricians about high sugar content in some rehydration drinks, which are labeled as ORS but may worsen dehydration, posing a public health risk.
- Global Market Growth
- Expected to nearly double from $5.87 billion in 2024 to $9.56 billion by 2035.
- Indian Market Growth
- Turnover doubled from Rs 3,340 million (May 2020) to Rs 7,160 million (May 2024).
- Brand Dominance
- One brand holds over 50% market share in India.
- Recent Sales Surge
- Signature product sales increased over 26% year-on-year in 2024; ranked fourth-most sold medicine in April 2024.
- WHO Recommended ORS
- Low Osmolarity ORS (LORS) has lower amounts of glucose and sodium.