ORS
- April 25, 2022
- Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
- Category: DPN Topics
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ORS
Subject: National bodies
Section: Food
Context- Misuse of ‘ORS’ on beverage labels: FSSAI asks State food safety commissioners to take action
Concept-
- The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has directed State food safety commissioners to take action against brands that are misusing the term Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS) on the labels of beverage products.
- Terming it as a case of misbranding, the regulator said such products, labelled with terms containing ORS, are misleading for consumers and could be harmful for patients.
- The food safety authority said it has received complaints that some fruit-based and non-car- bonated ready-to-drink beverage manufacturers use terms such as ORSL, ORSL Rehydrate, and Electro Plus ORS, among others, which are similar to ORS.
- The use of term ‘ORS’ or similar to ‘ORS’ and/or depiction of the food products as ‘ORS’ on their labels or through advertisement is not allowed under the food safety and standards regulations, and use of such terms may render the products as ‘misbranded food’, which may render such FBOs liable for punishment under Section52 and Section53 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
- The regulator stated that ORS is governed under the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, which is used for the treatment of acute diarrhoea and needs to have a specific composition prescribed by the Drugs Controller General of India.
About FSSAI:
- Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is an autonomous statutory body established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (FSS Act).
- Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India is the administrative Ministry of FSSAI with its Headquarters in Delhi.
- Various acts were subsumed & repealed after commencement of FSS Act, 2006.
- Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954
- Fruit Products Order, 1955
- Meat Food Products Order, 1973
- Vegetable Oil Products (Control) Order, 1947
- Edible Oils Packaging (Regulation) Order 1988
- Milk and Milk Products Order, 1992
- FSSAI is responsible for protecting and promoting public health through the regulation and supervision of food safety.