The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has ordered food businesses to remove the term “ORS” from product labels and brand names.
The directive applies to all forms of usage, including standalone, prefixed, suffixed, or trademarked versions.
FSSAI issued the order to Commissioners of Food Safety and Central Licensing Authorities across India. Officials must enforce the ban and ensure food business operators comply immediately.
The regulator stated that using “ORS” on fruit-based, non-carbonated, or ready-to-drink beverages violates the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. The term misleads consumers by implying medical efficacy, even when products carry disclaimers.
Earlier, FSSAI allowed limited use of “ORS” with a warning label. Now, it considers such branding deceptive and ambiguous. Products using “ORS” fall under misbranding and attract penalties under Sections 52 and 53 of the Act.
Authorities must monitor compliance and take action against violators. FSSAI emphasized that food labels must reflect accurate and lawful information.
The FSSAI ORS label ban aims to protect consumers from misleading claims and uphold food safety standards. Businesses must revise packaging and branding to align with the updated regulations.
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