Hyderabad-based paediatrician Dr. Sivaranjani Santosh has been fighting a dangerous trend, one where children with diarrhoea suffer severe dehydration despite being given so-called "ORS" drinks.

These brightly packaged beverages, sold in pharmacies and endorsed by celebrities, claimed to rehydrate the body but were laden with sugar, sometimes up to ten times more than medically approved oral rehydration solutions.

This month, her 8-year-long relentless campaign finally reached its goal. On October 14, 2025, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) issued a landmark advisory prohibiting food and beverage companies from using the term “ORS” (Oral Rehydration Solution) on any product names, labels, or trademarks, even when used as a prefix or suffix.

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The order explicitly states that using "ORS" for any drink, including fruit-based, non-carbonated, or ready-to-drink beverages, violates the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and misleads consumers by creating a false impression of medical legitimacy.

For Dr. Sivaranjani, this wasn’t just a regulatory victory, it was a deeply emotional one.

“It has been eight years since I persisted, and I have won it. No high-sugar drink can have ORS on its label anymore, and they cannot sell a single drink from here on. This is a win for parents, for children, for the people," she says in a viral video on Instagram.

THE BATTLE AGAINST DECEPT