ORS labels misleading consumers
Packets sold despite label ban
Despite a ban on ‘ORS’ labelling of products without having the prescribed composition, such illnesscausing sachets continue to be available in the market.
Doctors have raised serious concern at this development as they contend that while ORS is prescribed for dehydration, these illegal products increase diarrhoea and vomiting.
Doctors are dismayed that such misleading products are available aplenty in the market. They say that if one visits any pharmacy in the city and asks for an ORS or oral rehydration solution, chances are that they will be given a sachet, which will have ORS written in big, bold letters. The composition will be far from what is prescribed for an ORS, and its effect is quite the opposite.
Dr Shivaranjani Santosh, consultant paediatrician at Magna Centres and Rainbow Hospitals, says that such products have high sugar content, which increases chances of diarrhoea and diarrhoea-related complications, vomiting, hospitalisations and could even cause deaths.
“Warnings that the product should not be given to people suffering from diarrhoea are written in extremely small fonts on the sachets while ‘ORS’ is mentioned in bold,” says Dr Santosh. Some of these products available in the market include ORSL, ORSL Rehydrate, ORSFIT, Rebalanz QRS, Electro Plus ORS, among others.
After doctors, including Dr Santosh, raised the issue with multiple authorities, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) issued a direction on April 8, stating that use of the term ‘ORS’
or of similar terms for products which do not have the prescribed ORS compositions was a violation.
However, even after a month after the order has come into force, such products continue to be available. Dr Santosh and some other doctors have decided to approach the court, seeking strict implementation of the order.
“FSSAI may have issued a direction, but nobody is enforcing it, as there is no watchdog. It is a matter of saving children’s lives,” she said. FSSAI has urged commissioners of food safety of all states/UTs and central licensing authorities to take appropriate actions against violators.
President of Telangana Pharmacy Association Dr Akula Sanjay Reddy said that if pharmacists are aware of misbranded products, they themselves should stop stocking them up.