Hyderabad pediatrician’s fight forces ban on fake ORS labels

Hyderabad-based pediatrician and social activist Dr. Sivaranjani Santosh, whose eight-year legal and public campaign led India’s food regulator to ban misleading Oral Rehydration Salt labels, has called on young doctors to place ethics and public health above commercial pressure.

Speaking at the GITAM Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Hospital, Dr. Sivaranjani recounted her sustained battle against sugary drinks falsely marketed as ORS. She said several such products, widely used during childhood illness, contained excessive sugar that could worsen dehydration instead of treating it.

Her efforts culminated in a landmark decision by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, which prohibited the use of the term “ORS” on products that do not meet World Health Organization standards. Public health experts say the move has helped reduce health risks and protect millions of children nationwide.

Dr. Sivaranjani said the fight came at a personal cost, including concerns for her family while taking on powerful corporate interests. “Public support became my biggest strength,” she said, adding that doctors must speak out when health misinformation puts lives at risk.

She urged young medical professionals to uphold ethical responsibility and keep patient welfare at the centre of their practice.

GITAM President and Visakhapatnam MP M. Sribharath praised her persistence, calling it a rare example of how medical professionals can influence national policy beyond clinical work.