One Woman vs Industry: Hyderabad Doctor’s Crusade Cleans Up India’s ORS Market!

Hyderabad, October 2025:
After an incredible eight-year battle for truth and child safety, Dr. Sivaranjani Santosh, a pediatrician from Hyderabad, has achieved what few thought possible — a nationwide ban on fake ORS-labelled drinks. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has now ruled that only formulations following the official WHO ORS standards can be labeled as “ORS,” bringing a long-awaited victory for genuine healthcare and consumer protection.

The Beginning of a Battle

It all started nearly a decade ago, when Dr. Sivaranjani Santosh noticed something alarming in her daily practice. Parents would bring children suffering from diarrhea and dehydration — yet, despite claiming to have given them ORS, the kids’ condition wasn’t improving.

On investigating, she found that many so-called “ORS” drinks sold in stores and pharmacies were nothing but sugary fruit beverages packaged in medical-looking boxes. These products mimicked authentic ORS sachets but had sky-high sugar levels and lacked essential electrolytes like sodium and potassium — the very elements that make ORS life-saving.

That realization became a turning point in her career.

“When a child is sick and a parent trusts something labeled ‘ORS’ — it must save, not harm. That’s what pushed me to fight,” says Dr. Santosh.

Taking on Giants — One Petition at a Time

In 2015, she began her campaign to alert authorities and the public about the danger of fake ORS labeling. She wrote to regulatory bodies, shared educational posts online, and collaborated with other pediatricians to raise awareness.

But when her appeals didn’t bring enough change, she took her fight to the courts — filing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Telangana High Court against the misleading branding by beverage companies. Her argument was simple but powerful: “If it doesn’t meet the WHO formula, it’s not ORS.”

She faced years of delays, corporate pushback, and bureaucratic hurdles. Yet, she refused to give up.

Her campaign gained traction on social media, where parents, doctors, and activists rallied behind her with hashtags like #SaveRealORS and #FakeORSBan. Awareness grew rapidly, and soon, her fight turned into a nationwide health movement.

The 2025 Victory — A Landmark Decision

After eight years of persistence, FSSAI finally issued a landmark directive in October 2025:

• No beverage, drink, or product can use the term “ORS” in its name, brand, or packaging unless it strictly follows the WHO ORS formulation.
• Fruit-based or sugary electrolyte drinks falsely branded as ORS are banned nationwide.
• All previously approved labels using disclaimers like “This is not WHO-ORS” are now invalid.

In short — the misuse of the word “ORS” is over.

“We have won it! No more confusion, no more fake ORS drinks. This is a victory for parents and children across India,” says Dr. Santosh with visible relief and pride.

Why This Matters So Much

India sees millions of diarrhea-related cases each year, particularly among children in rural areas. For decades, ORS (Oral Rehydration Salts) — a simple mix of salt, sugar, and water in precise proportions — has saved countless lives. But when misleadingly labeled sugary drinks flooded the market, they blurred the line between medicine and marketing, putting children at risk.

Dr. Santosh’s victory ensures that every product labeled “ORS” in India now meets global medical standards. It’s a triumph not just for consumers, but also for science, ethics, and child safety.

The Woman Behind the Win

A practicing pediatrician and passionate health educator, Dr. Sivaranjani Santosh has always been known for her clear voice and fearless honesty. Through her videos, workshops, and consultations, she consistently stresses rational medicine and public awareness.

Her relentless journey — balancing a medical career, motherhood, and an eight-year public campaign — has inspired many in the medical community.

“It’s not my victory,” she says humbly. “It’s the people’s win — a win for every mother who trusted that word ‘ORS’ and deserves honesty from every product.”

Ripple Effect — What Happens Next

The FSSAI directive has now sent shockwaves across the beverage industry. Companies will have to rebrand or reformulate several popular electrolyte and fruit-based drinks that misleadingly used the ORS tag. Pharmacies and retailers have been instructed to withdraw non-compliant products from shelves immediately.

Public health experts hail this as a milestone for consumer rights in India — a case that proves individual activism can reform national policy. The WHO has also long warned that misleading labeling on rehydration products could cost lives — making this a globally significant precedent.

A Legacy of Quality and Integrity

Dr. Sivaranjani Santosh’s crusade against fake ORS has set a new benchmark for how citizens can hold powerful industries accountable. Her persistence has safeguarded millions of families who might have been misled by flashy packaging and deceptive claims.

In an age where marketing often overshadows medicine, her story reminds us that truth still has a voice — and sometimes, it speaks through one determined doctor in a white coat.