Pharma companies hound Hyderabad’s Dr Sivaranjani who led the fight against misleading ORS label on products, resulting in a significant regulatory shift by FSSAI

Sivaranjani Santosh has resigned from IAP
Dr Sivaranjani Santosh (Source: Namasthe Telangana)

Pharma Majors has sent a notice to Dr Sivaranjani Santosh, a paediatrician in Hyderabad, charging her of making false, deceptive, derogatory and defamatory remarks against their products. Notably, her 8-year-long struggle culminated in success when the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) barred food brands from using the term “Oral Rehydration Salts” or “ORS” unless the formulation conforms strictly to specifications established by the World Health Organization (WHO) in October 2025.

According to a 16th March cease and desist notification, Dr Sivaranjani allegedly made slanderous comments about ORSL (Oral Rehydration Salt and Liquid) and its rebranded variant ERZL on social media. “How dare you send me a notice that I am maligning the names of ORSL and ERZL for my own commercial benefits and for increasing the number of followers for my page, and that you will drag me to the court. My stance is predated and vindicated by the FSSAI order of October 14th and 15th,” she stated in a sharp response video to Johnson & Johnson Health Equity and Kenvue.

She highlighted that the Delhi High Court had refused to grant a stay. She referred to the action as a blatant breach of the prohibition order to claim that ERZL is the fresh form of ORSL and to deceive those who continue to believe ORSL is ORS. “Your notice is being processed by our lawyers, and they will deal with it,” she added.

The legal communication insisted that the companies meet the requirements of the Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006, and their assertions are supported by governmental approvals and scientific data, reported The Hindu. It referenced continuing legal and regulatory developments, citing Delhi High Court proceedings in which the judge expressed that the products “not adulterated or unsafe for use” and the controversy was restricted to aspects related to branding.

The notice stated that distributors have been directed to return or relabel older stock in accordance with FSSAI directives, refuting accusations that former ORSL goods remain in circulation or ERZL is being advocated as an ORS alternative. The corporations have asked Santosh to stop using their trademarks without permission, take down any posts that are purportedly defamatory and refrain from conveying anything unfavourable about them or their products.

Kenvue’s subsidiary, JNTL Consumer Health (India) Private Limited was initially given temporary protection by the Delhi High Court, enabling it to carry on selling its electrolyte beverages under the ORSL brand. Later on, though, it refused to give the firm more time to get rid of its inventory of “Electrolyte Drinks” that were marketed under the ORSL brand. “Sorry, we can’t permit it. Please recall it (stock). We will not permit it. We are sorry. The matter relates to public health concern,” the court pronounced in November.

Written by OpIndia Staff
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