Hyderabad-based pediatrician Dr. Sivaranjani Santosh, who has been at the forefront of an eight-year battle against misleading “ORS” drinks, is once again standing firm against corporate lobbying and regulatory leniency.
A peadiatrician with 18 years of experience, Dr. Sivaranjani Santosh completed her MBBS and MD in Paediatrics from JIPMER, Puducherry. She is the author of the book “Baby and Child Care” and was nominated by the Andhra Pradesh Government for the Padma Award in 2023. Beyond her advocacy work, she continues to train thousands in CPR and champions consumer vigilance against deceptive health products a mission that has already safeguarded the well-being of millions of children across India.
In 2015, Dr. Santosh discovered that many children were falling ill after consuming sugary beverages marketed as “ORS” a term strictly meant for World Health Organization (WHO)-approved oral rehydration solutions. What began as a local concern soon evolved into a national campaign. Over the years, she educated parents, filed complaints with regulators, and ultimately approached the courts, leading to a landmark Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in 2024.
Her relentless efforts culminated in a major victory in October 2025, when the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) banned the use of the term “ORS” on food and drink products that do not meet WHO standards. The directive mandated that the term be removed from all brand names, labels, and trademarks even when used with prefixes or suffixes.
However, soon after the announcement, JNPL Consumer Health (India) moved the Delhi High Court, which granted an interim stay on the restriction related to registered trademarks containing the term “ORS.”
Unfazed by the legal hurdles, Dr. Santosh announced she would formally submit her objection to the FSSAI, opposing any relaxation of the rule or allowance for companies to dispose of their ₹180 crore stock under dispute.
“We are going to send our objection to FSSAI tomorrow that’s our legal course of action,” Dr. Santosh told The Free Press Journal. “But I also want the entire nation to raise its voice. FSSAI should not give in to corporate pressure. People must stop buying these misleading products. I’m using social media to spread awareness, and I urge everyone to share and support this cause.”
She further appealed for swift and firm action from FSSAI, insisting that re-branded products must not find their way into pharmacies, hospitals, or schools, even if relabelled.
“Changing the label doesn’t change the fact that these are not therapeutic products,” she said. “If companies need to clear existing stock, it should only be sold in supermarkets without any mention of ORS.”
While her campaign has gained traction among individual doctors and the public, institutional support remains limited.
“Earlier there was very little backing, but now many individual doctors are sharing the message. Unfortunately, there’s still no support from medical associations not even from the Indian Academy of Paediatrics. It has truly been a one-woman fight,” she admitted.
