Parliament Question: Sale of Everyday Hydration Drinks as ORS Alternatives

GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE LOK SABHA UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 4702 TO BE ANSWERED ON20th MARCH, 2026 SALE OFEVERYDAYHYDRATION DRINKSAS ORS ALTERNATIVES 4702. SHRI SRIBHARAT MATHUKUMILLI: Will the Ministerof HEALTHANDFAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate: (a) the details of all brands currently selling ‘everyday hydration’ drinks in India as alternatives tothe WHO-recommendedORS formulation; (b) whether the Government hasexamined the extentof packagingsimilarity between such drinksandthe WHO-recommendedORS formulation, if so, the detailsthereof; (c)whether anystudy hasbeenundertaken bythe Government onthe healthimpactof artificialsweeteners used insuch products, includingtheireffects on appetite,gut health,and diarrhoealsymptoms inchildren andif so, the keyfindingsthereof; (d) whether anystudy hasbeenundertakenby the Government of the impactof the consumption of everydayhydrationdrinksonpatients with diabetesandobesity andif so, the detailsthereof; and (e)whether the Government hasexamined concernsthat the promotionof 'everyday hydration' drinks may undermine the use of standard ORS and if so, the details thereof along with the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to regulate the branding, labellingandadvertising of such products? ANSWER THE MINISTEROFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRIPRATAPRAO JADHAV) (a) to (e): Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is mandated to lay down science based standards for articles of food and to regulate their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption. The implementation and enforcement of the Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act, 2006isa shared responsibility between the Central andStateGovernments.FSSAIvide advisory dated 28.03.2024hasclarifiedthat‘HealthDrink’ isnot defined/ standardized anywhere under the FSS Act, 2006 or rules and regulations made thereunder. Therefore, the food products licensed under 'Proprietary Food' with the nearest category- Dairy Based Beverage Mix or Cereal Based Beverage Mix or Malt Based Beverage being sold in the e-commercewebsite underthe category ‘Health Drink’,‘Energy Drink’ have been advised to remove / de-link such drinks / beverages from the category of ‘Health Drinks / Energy Drinks’ on their website and place such products in the appropriate category as providedunderthe extantlaw. As per the National Family Health Survey(NFHS-5,2019–21), 24 % of women, 23% of men and3% of children are overweight or obese. Unhealthy diets, sedentary lifestyles and environmental factors are key contributors to the rising prevalence of obesity. The increasing consumption of processed foods, reduced physical activity, and lifestyle changes have further intensified thisgrowing crisis, affecting bothurbanandrural populations. FSSAI in exercise of its regulatory oversight, has issued directions to all the Food Business Operators (FBOs) for removal of such brand name / product name containing word “Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS)” with immediate effect from all distribution channels, alongwith from e-commerce platforms. In pursuance tothis, directions on 14.10.2025 have been issued toall the enforcement authorities in States/UTs & regional offices of FSSAI, wherein Commissioners of Food Safety of all States/UTs and Central Licensing Authorities were advised to initiate regulatory action against such FBOs and against misleading food labels using the term “ORS” on non- carbonated water-based beverages/ Fruit based beverages/ Ready to serve/drink beverages, in accordancewith the provisions of the FSSAct, 2006 andrelevantregulations. FSS Act, 2006imposes restrictions onunfair trade practices, includingthe prohibition ofmisleadingadvertisementsandclaims.Further,FSSAIhasalsonotifiedtheFoodSafetyand Standards (Advertising and Claims) Regulation, 2018, to address issues related to misleading claims,labellingandadvertisements.Itensuresthatfood-relatedadvertisementsandclaimsare accurate, non-deceptive, and align with food safety standards. It is the responsibility of the foodbusinesstoadherewiththeserequirements.Anycontraventionoftheseregulationsleadto appropriate actionsinaccordancewith theprovisions oftheFSSAct,2006,anditssubsequent regulationsmadethereafter. *****