Fake ORS, reportedly, has a high sugar content. (Representative Image)
In conditions like diarrhoea, vomiting and fainting, doctors advise mixing ORS in water and drinking it.
Copies of many branded items are now available on the market. This includes everything from clothes to bottled drinks and everyday items. Even medicines are sometimes fake. Yes, there are a lot of fake products available nowadays and it is very difficult to identify them. People, unaware, buy and consume these products. Adulteration in some of these foods can be life-threatening. ORS powder is in high demand during the summer. Now, it has come to light that similar fake powder is being made and sold. Today, let’s take a look at how to identify fake ORS.
Why is it advised to drink ORS mixed with water?
In conditions like diarrhoea, vomiting, and fainting, doctors advise mixing ORS in water and drinking it. It works to maintain the balance of electrolytes and fluids in the body. So if you drink fake ORS powder instead of the real one, you can do more harm than good. Children are mostly affected by it.
Serious problems that fake ORS can cause include:
According to reports, fake ORS has a high sugar content. If you suffer from diarrhoea, drinking ORS can make your condition worse. This can cause you to suffer from dehydration. Sodium in fake ORS is also minimal. It disturbs the electrolyte balance in the body risking the brain to get swelling. Apart from this, you may face many other complications.
How to recognise fake ORS?
You may see FSSAI certification written on the packets of fake ORS. It will be a mark in the food product category itself. On the other hand, the packet of genuine ORS powder will have the WHO formula written on it. True ORS falls under the category of medicines and is formulated under strict guidelines. It is ensured while making the powder that its quality is maintained.
In this case, when you buy ORS, be sure to check the instructions written on its packaging, the ingredients used to make it and the regulatory symbols. Genuine ORS products have different labels indicating quality.
