The Delhi High Court has upheld the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India’s (FSSAI) decision to prohibit the sale of non-medical beverages marketed under ‘ORS’ branding. The court observed that such products mislead consumers by suggesting they possess therapeutic properties akin to Oral Rehydration Salts, which are regulated medical formulations used to treat dehydration.

The judgment came after several beverage companies challenged FSSAI’s directive banning the use of the term ‘ORS’ in drink branding and advertisements. The bench noted that only pharmaceutical-grade oral rehydration solutions meeting WHO standards can legally use the ‘ORS’ label.

FSSAI had earlier warned that several electrolyte-based drinks falsely promoted themselves as medical-grade ORS, potentially endangering public health. The ruling reinforces regulatory efforts to prevent misleading health claims and ensure consumer safety in India’s growing functional beverage market.