Social media influencer Revant Himatsingka, widely recognised as Food Pharmer, has yet again steered transformative change within the packaged food industry. Known for scrutinising and shedding light on the contents of popular food products, his spotlight fell on Cadbury’s Bournvita chocolate drink earlier this year, leading to legal actions. However, after nearly eight months, the giant has taken corrective measures by reducing the sugar content as highlighted by Revant.
Initial Outcry and Response
Back in April, Himatsingka’s video critique of Bournvita’s notably high sugar content sparked widespread attention and criticism directed at the brand. The product, previously comprising 37.4 grams of added sugar per 100 grams, faced scrutiny for its nutritional composition. In response to Himatsingka’s assertions, Bournvita reacted by sending a legal notice, denouncing his claims as “unscientific” and based on “distorted facts.”
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A Step Towards Reform
However, responding to the public outcry and perhaps influenced by Himatsingka’s advocacy, the brand recently announced a noteworthy alteration in its product. The revised formula now contains 32.2 grams of added sugar per 100 grams, marking a substantial reduction of 14.4 percent from its previous sugar content.
Celebrating a “Big Win”
Taking to Instagram, Himatsingka expressed his elation at this development, hailing it as a significant achievement. His post celebrated the impact of his advocacy, noting that his video led to a notable 15% reduction in sugar content. He underscored the potential ripple effect, highlighting the power of informed consumer choices and the necessity for transparent product labelling.
A Broader Mission
Throughout this journey, Himatsingka has emphasised that his campaign extends beyond Bournvita, advocating against any company that markets unhealthy food as nutritious. He envisions a healthier future for India’s 140 crore citizens, believing that influencing one company’s approach to sugar content can trigger a positive chain reaction across the industry, fostering greater accountability.
The narrative surrounding Bournvita’s sugar reduction shows the considerable influence social media influencers wield in catalysing positive changes. Himatsingka’s advocacy shows the importance of consumer awareness, urging individuals to scrutinise food labels and make informed choices.
Press Release
Revant Himatsingka, popularly known as Foodpharmer, is an entrepreneur, author, Wharton MBA and social media influencer with over 1.5 million followers on Instagram. He has become a prominent name and trusted voice. He is influencing positive changes within the food industry. He promotes healthy living through informed dietary choices.
Himatsingka’s aim is to make India nutritionally literate. Himatsingka left his cushy McKinsey job in the US (which was paying him Rs.2cr+), and came back to India, to speak out against the false-marketing of Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) companies and teach people how to read food labels. Himatsingka believes that learning how to read a food label is an even more important skill than coding in the 21st century since most of what we eat today is packaged food!
Himatsingka has also called out brands like Tang, Sting, Kissan, and Maggi as well as bread brands in India, on his social media. A few months after his video, Maggi Ketchup reduced its sugar content by 22% and Bournvita reduced its added sugar by 14.4%.
His video on Bournvita, especially has received national recognition. India’s leading nutrition body, NAPI, supported the video and called it “scientific” and the government’s child rights body sent a notice to Bournvita to remove their misleading ads. Millions of parents began reading labels for the first time and started making healthier choices for their children.
As a graduate of NYU Stern School of Business, Revant was initially headed for a career in Finance. Soon after, he also turned down an MBA offer from IIM Bangalore in order to pursue his passion for improving the thought process of India’s youth. This period also saw the inception of his authorial venture, resulting in the publication of ‘Selfienomics’, a self-help comedy book which also had a section about nutritional literacy published by Bloomsbury, which achieved the status of an Amazon Top 100 Bestseller in its first week of pre-order itself.As a sought-after expert, Foodpharmer has been featured in various prominent media outlets, including Forbes, Financial Express, BusinessToday, NDTV, DailyHunt and India Today. His ability to demystify nutrition and present it in an accessible manner has resonated with audiences.
