Fake ORS Alert: Bengaluru Pharmacies Under Scanner for Selling Non-WHO Compliant Products
Bengaluru: Pharmacies across Bengaluru are allegedly selling mislabeled oral rehydration salt (ORS) products, prompting alarm among doctors and health officials. Despite repeated alerts from medical experts and regulators, several of these products do not conform to the World Health Organization's (WHO) recommended formulation, yet continue to be marketed as genuine ORS, putting patients, especially children, at risk.
According to a recent media report in the Deccan Herald, pediatricians have been raising concerns for years about such spurious ORS variants that carry misleading labels. Many of these powders and drinks deviate significantly from the WHO-prescribed balance of glucose, sodium, and potassium, which is essential for effective rehydration therapy. Some products contain excessive sugar or flavoring agents, making them not only ineffective but also potentially harmful, as they can worsen dehydration or delay recovery.
Doctors warned that these falsely labelled products mislead both parents and pharmacists, undermining efforts to combat dehydration-related illnesses, especially among infants and young children. The presence of such products on pharmacy shelves reflects gaps in enforcement and the need for tighter regulation of the retail drug market.
Regulatory authorities have conducted inspections and taken limited action in the past, but enforcement has been inconsistent. Experts now urge the Food Safety Department and Drug Control Administration to implement stronger monitoring mechanisms, conduct surprise inspections, and enhance public awareness so consumers can distinguish between authentic ORS formulations and misleading substitutes.
Deccan Herald reports that the continued availability of these mislabeled ORS products across Bengaluru highlights a major regulatory lapse in ensuring drug quality and consumer safety. Pediatricians have called for immediate intervention to prevent further misuse of the “ORS” label and to safeguard vulnerable patients.
