Hyderabad doctor quits Indian Academy of Paediatrics panel after ORS drink row
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Hyderabad-based paediatrician Dr Sivaranjini Santhosh has resigned from the Indian Academy of Paediatrics following a dispute over “ORS-like” drinks and the organisation’s response to her concerns.
Dr Santhosh, who has campaigned for eight years against the misuse of the term ORS by fruit-based beverages, said she quit after the academy did not support her and aided a company involved in the controversy.
She said the issue escalated after she flagged that a drink by Kenvue, rebranded as an everyday hydration solution, closely resembled its earlier product, which had used the ORS label. According to her, the packaging similarity could mislead consumers into believing it was a medical-grade oral rehydration solution.
“The company issued a statement saying their drinks have a scientific basis and were presented at Pedicon,” she said, adding that a stall at a conference does not amount to a scientific presentation. She said she had asked the academy to condemn both the company’s statement and a notice issued against her, but was instead advised not to speak publicly before a review.
Dr Santhosh criticised the academy’s subsequent position statement as “confusing” and said it addressed only sucralose, a sweetener used in the company’s product, rather than all non-nutritive sweeteners. She expressed concern that the statement could be used against her in a potential defamation case.
The controversy stems from regulatory action earlier this year barring companies from using the term ORS for products that do not meet World Health Organization standards. Kenvue has said its ORSL brand complies with WHO guidelines and is intended for treating dehydration, while its newer eRZL drinks are meant for general hydration.
Dr Santhosh has argued that such drinks, especially those with added sugars or artificial sweeteners, may worsen diarrhoea in children by drawing more water into the gut. She warned that confusion between medical ORS and commercial beverages could have serious consequences.
Oral rehydration solution is a medically approved mixture of glucose and electrolytes used to treat dehydration caused by diarrhoea, particularly in children. Experts say any deviation from the prescribed formulation can reduce its effectiveness or worsen symptoms.
The dispute has triggered wider debate over product labelling, public health messaging, and the role of medical bodies in supporting practitioners raising safety concerns.