🩺 FSSAI Ban 2025: How One Doctor’s 8-Year Battle Exposed Misleading ORS Drinks in India
In October 2025, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) announced a nationwide ban on the misuse of the term “ORS” in beverage and food product labels. This decision came after years of public health concern — and at the heart of this movement stands a determined pediatrician from Hyderabad, Dr. Shivaranjini Santosh Kumar.
Her unwavering 8-year campaign brought to light how certain drinks were misleadingly marketed as “ORS,” endangering children’s lives. This is the inspiring story of how one woman’s persistence led to a historic national policy change.
💡 The Beginning: A Doctor’s Discovery
Back in 2017, Dr. Shivaranjini began noticing an alarming trend. Parents were giving their children drinks like ORSL, believing they were medically approved Oral Rehydration Solutions for treating dehydration.
But instead of recovery, many children’s conditions worsened. Upon reviewing the composition, she found these products contained excess sugar and incorrect electrolyte balance, making them unfit for treating dehydration.
⚠️ Raising the Alarm
Realizing the danger, she took action. Between 2018 and 2019, she started alerting FSSAI and health authorities, urging them to regulate these misleading beverages. Her warnings initially went unheard — but her mission only grew stronger.
She began educating parents, doctors, and the public, explaining the difference between WHO-approved ORS and commercially flavored electrolyte drinks.
✉️ Turning Advocacy into Action
By 2020, Dr. Shivaranjini filed formal complaints to the Union Health Ministry and FSSAI, presenting evidence of mislabelled products and their health risks.
She also helped launch a Change.org petition demanding a complete ban on products like ORSL that falsely used the “ORS” name.
Though FSSAI responded with an advisory in 2022, allowing the term “ORS” with disclaimers, misuse continued — and so did her fight.
🗣️ An Unstoppable Voice for Children
Throughout 2023 and 2024, Dr. Shivaranjini continued her advocacy, collecting more data and engaging with media houses. Her efforts gained widespread attention from publications like The Times of India and Firstpost, which highlighted her as a pediatrician fighting for truth in public health.
🏆 Victory at Last: The 2025 FSSAI Directive
Her persistence paid off. On 14 October 2025, the FSSAI issued a nationwide directive banning the use of the term “ORS” in any food or beverage label or advertisement unless the product strictly follows the WHO-recommended formula.
By 17 October 2025, states and Union Territories were instructed to enforce the rule, marking a major win for public health and consumer safety.
🌍 The Impact of One Woman’s Courage
This decision forced beverage companies to remove “ORS” from misleading product names and reformulate or rebrand their drinks.
Consumers are now more aware of what true oral rehydration therapy is, and countless children will be safer because of her relentless efforts.
Dr. Shivaranjini’s journey proves that one voice — persistent, factual, and compassionate — can indeed change national health policy.
🙏 A Story Worth Celebrating
Dr. Shivaranjini’s story is more than a medical victory; it’s a lesson in integrity and compassion. Her courage reminds us that protecting truth is a form of healing in itself.
Her journey from a concerned pediatrician to a national changemaker continues to inspire both the medical community and every citizen who believes in doing what’s right.
“True healing begins when we protect the truth about what heals.” — Dr. Shivaranjini Santosh Kumar
The FSSAI Ban 2025 is a milestone for India’s public health — and a tribute to the power of one individual’s dedication.
As we celebrate this victory, may it remind us to stay vigilant, choose wisely, and support those who fight for the safety and well-being of others.
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