medical
These ‘ORS’ Drinks Were Putting Children’s Lives at Risk — One Doctor Made It Stop
Published: 19/10/25
Updated: 19/10/25
For many parents in India, ORS (Oral Rehydration Solution) is a trusted name. When a child has diarrhea, vomiting or dehydration, the best solution we have it “Give ORS”. It helps replace lost fluids and salts and can save lives.
But what if the drink you were giving as ORS was actually harming your children?
That’s what one doctor from Hyderabad, Dr Sivaranjani Santosh, found out eight years ago. And she decided to do something about it.
The Hidden Danger Behind the Label
If you walk into a shop or pharmacy, you will see many colorful bottles that say ORS on them. Parents often buy them, thinking they are safe and doctor-approved.
But Dr. Sivaranjani noticed something strange. These so-called ORS drinks were not real ORS at all.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has a proper formula for ORS. It is a careful mix of sugar and salt that helps the body absorb water. Real ORS has just the right amount of sodium, potassium, and glucose.
Many companies were selling sweet, flavored energy drinks and calling them ORS. These drinks had too much sugar, caffeine, and artificial flavors.
Instead of helping, such drinks could actually make dehydration worse. And this could be worse in small children who are already weak or sick.
Parents trust labels. When they see ORS, they believe it will help their child get better. But when that trust is misused, it becomes dangerous.
Children who were sick were being given these fake ORS drinks. Because of the high sugar and caffeine, some of them were getting sicker. In serious cases, it could even become life-threatening.
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One Doctor Who Refused to Give Up
When Dr. Sivaranjani Santosh started warning people, very few listened. Many thought she was overreacting. But she had seen the results herself. Children in hospitals who were not recovering were because of the wrong products.
She started writing letters to government departments, filing complaints, and meeting officials. She collected research and evidence to show how these drinks were violating safety rules.
But it was definitely not easy. It took eight long years of effort. Eight years of emails, reports, and follow-ups.
She just wanted one thing, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) should ban the use of ORS term on products that don’t follow the WHO formula.
The Victory
Finally, FSSAI listened in 2025. After years of effort, they passed an order that banned energy drink brands from using the term ORS.
From now on, no company can write ORS on a product unless it meets the proper medical standards.
For Dr. Sivaranjani, it was a proud and emotional moment. She said, “No child will die now because of this confusion.”
Her fight had saved lives.
Today, because of her, thousands of children across India will be safer.
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