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Revant Himatsingka
Portrait photo of Himatsingka smiling in a yellow shirt
Himatsingka in 2024
Instagram information
Also known asFoodPharmer
Page
Genre(s)Health and nutrition
Followers2.7 million
Contents are inHindi, English
YouTube information
Channel
Subscribers1,001,000[1]
Updated: 3 December 2024

Revant Himatsingka, better known as FoodPharmer, is an Indian health and nutrition influencer. He is known for spreading awareness of clean eating choices and reading food labels in a humorous manner. Ranked 15th in Forbes India's "Top 100 Digital Stars" of 2024, he began his career as an author and consultant before transitioning to social media. He gained prominence after a viral video in 2023 that criticised the high sugar content in Bournvita, sparking regulatory actions and industry reforms. Operating independently, he campaigns against misleading food practices. His activism has influenced product reformulations and public discourse on food standards in India. He has also been at the centre of several legal battles filed by major FMCG companies in India.

Early and personal life

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Revant Himatsingka was born into a Kolkata-based upper-middle-class Marwari family. His father was a business owner and his mother was a homemaker. He completed his schooling from Don Bosco School, Park Circus. He graduated in finance from NYU Stern School of Business and did his MBA at The Wharton School. He then worked as a consultant at McKinsey & Company, during which time he also completed a course in nutrition. He has authored a book and has delivered TEDx talks and speeches at several educational institutions.[2][3][4]

He quit his job in April 2023 and returned to Kolkata after 13 years in the US.[2] He has since moved to Mumbai due to its status as India's financial capital and due to the difficulty of travelling from Kolkata to speak at various functions and events there.[3] He is in a long-distance relationship with his wife who works in the US. He has stated that he and his family feel concerned about him because of financial, legal, and potential physical threats due to the nature of his work.[2]

Career as health influencer

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Himatsingka initially began his social media career to promote his book, Selfienomics, before transitioning to FoodPharmer.[2] His current alias, "FoodPharmer", is the concatenation of the words "Food" and "Pharmer", which itself is a portmanteau of "pharma" and "farmer".[5]

After quitting his US job, on 1 April 2023, he posted a video on Bournvita's high sugar content and its impact on children. He claimed that the product marketed as a health drink for children contains almost 50% sugar and adversely impacts the health of children, is addictive, and promotes diabetes.[6][7] He was served a legal notice from Mondelez, the parent company of Bournvita, and forced to take the video down. His Twitter account was also permanently suspended.[8] However, his video went viral on social media and had over 12,000,000 views on Instagram before being taken down.[9] It also earned him over 100,000 followers within a few days on the platform. The video was shared by several celebrities, politicians and also featured on various TV news channels.[2][3][6] In response to this, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) ordered Bournvita to withdraw its misleading packaging and advertisements, and the Indian government ordered that it be removed from 'health drinks' category on e-commerce sites.[10][11] Bournvita eventually relented and reduced sugar content in the product.[7]

He continued making videos critical of several FMCGs such as Dabur, Lay's, Knorr, Nestle, Kissan, Nutella, PepsiCo, Red Bull, among others, and earned more than 1,000,000 followers on Instagram in six months. His movement has been backed by several experts and supported by some celebrities.[3][12][13][14] Many companies have since reduced the sugar content of their products and marketers have changed their taglines as a response to his videos. However, he has also been served with numerous lawsuits from several brands including Dabur and PepsiCo.[2][5][7][15] Some of his videos were also taken down by social media sites.[16]

Following a joint report by Public Eye and IBFAN that Nestle's Cerelac has significantly higher sugar content in economically disadvantaged regions, such as India, compared to Europe, Himatsingka stressed the need for stricter enforcement rules in India as in Europe.[17] The World Health Organization recommends against added sugars for children below two years of age.[7] He also raised his concerns about the high sodium content of upma, poha and dal chawal in IndiGo flights. He stated that high altitude reduces the sensitivity of taste buds, thus most airlines add excess salt to the food but also recognised that high sodium may result in hypertension, heart and kidney issues. The airline said that its food products maintain strict quality standards and follow all FSSAI guidelines.[18][19] He has also criticised the use of maida in bread and biscuits, the high sugar in ketchup, flavoured drinks for children, and energy drinks as well as the use of palm oil, artificial food colouring, and several other ingredients in food products.[16][20][21][22][23]

He has accused pharmacies of selling fake oral rehydration solution (ORS). He claimed that pharmacies often sell drinks that do not follow WHO-recommended standards instead of actual ORS. He said that such drinks are often approved by the FSSAI but have higher sugar and lower electrolyte content compared to the standards recommended by the WHO.[24][25] In 2024, he assisted Rajya Sabha MP Sudha Murty on the impact of food adulteration during the Monsoon and Winter sessions of the parliament.[26][27] He is known for spreading awareness on clean eating choices and reading of food labels in a humorous manner.[2] He has launched Label Padhega India campaign to encourage the practice of reading food labels on packaged products.[5][28] He is operating his movement from his savings in the US.[2] He has declined offers from several companies to promote their products. He scripts and shoots his videos himself and has one employee. He relies upon pro-bono lawyers to fight the lawsuits against him.[3]

Impact and influence

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Himatsingka was ranked 15th in Forbes India's "Top 100 Digital Stars" list of 2024.[29] He was one of the creators nominated in "Disrupter of the Year" category at the National Creators Award 2024, but he did not win.[30][31] Some people have also expressed their willingness to donate to his cause.[2]

Following the virality of his first video in April 2023, critical of sugar and other contents in Bournvita, which is marketed as a health drink for children, its parent company, Mondelez, sent a legal notice to Himatsingka calling his video 'unscientific' and accusing him of 'distorting facts', forcing him to take the video down and to issue a public apology.[5] The company further contended that Bournvita contains "vitamins A, C, D, Iron, Zinc, Copper, and Selenium which help build immunity" and that the suggested serving contains much less sugar than the recommended daily sugar intake for children. The company asserted that the formulation was created by food scientists and nutritionists and that all regulations have been followed.[8][9][23][32][33] However, the Indian government and NCPCR intervened and ordered Bournvita to withdraw misleading promotional material.[10][11] The company eventually reduced sugar content in the drink by approximately 15%, from 37.4 grams of added sugar per 100 grams of powder to 32.2 grams per 100 grams, in December 2023.[4][7][34]

Regarding his videos on Mondelez's Bournvita and Tang, the Delhi High Court, in its interim order, has stated that Himatsingka may continue making factual statements in his videos or posts, but may not create "disparaging" videos on the company and its products.[35] He has later stated in the court that he will request the takedown of an interview where he is alleged to have violated the court's injunction on making remarks against Bournvita.[36] The NCPCR has prohibited the use of the term "health drink" for beverages consumed by children that have added flavours.[21] This has resulted in the removal of Bournvita, Horlicks, and several other beverages from the "health drink" category.[37]

He criticised the usage of "100% juice" label used by Real to market its products despite not being 100% fruit juice. Real's parent company Dabur reacted by sending him a legal notice. Meanwhile, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India banned the use of "100% juice" label on these products.[5] As a response to his criticism of sugar content in Maggi's Rich Tomato Ketchup, Nestle announced a change in the recipe of the product to reduce sugar by 22% and to have more tomatoes in it than sugar.[4][5][15] His criticism of Lay's chips resulted in the company switching to sunflower oil for producing chips.[5]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "About @Foodpharmer". YouTube.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Karia, Vedant (5 February 2024). "Meet Revant Himatsingka aka Food Pharmer — the content creator propagating healthy eating with a dose of humour". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 22 May 2024. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d e Balachandran, Manu (17 October 2024). "Revant Himatsingka: In A Battle Against Junk Food And False Marketing". Forbes India. Archived from the original on 12 November 2024. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  4. ^ a b c Mani, Sowmya (15 May 2024). "From 2 Cr Salary to 2 Million Followers: How 'FoodPharmer' Started A Food Revolution in India". The Better India. Archived from the original on 18 May 2024. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g Goradia, Abha (16 June 2024). "Kindly check the writing before biting". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 17 June 2024. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  6. ^ a b "Influencer shakes up consumer confidence in Bournvita with a reel - ET BrandEquity". ETBrandEquity.com. 17 April 2023. Archived from the original on 7 December 2023. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  7. ^ a b c d e Bhatnagar, Vanshika (24 June 2024). "'Sweet' Victory of a One-Man Army". Free Press Journal. Archived from the original on 16 July 2024. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  8. ^ a b "Bournvita row: Twitter account of influencer 'Foodpharmer' suspended". Business Today. 19 April 2023. Archived from the original on 11 May 2023. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  9. ^ a b "Bournvita controversy: Here's how company responded to influencer's viral video". India Today. 18 April 2023. Archived from the original on 1 November 2023. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  10. ^ a b Bhardwaj, Amit (27 April 2023). "Child rights body directs Bournvita to remove 'misleading' labels over its sugar content". India Today. Archived from the original on 26 April 2023. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  11. ^ a b "Govt directs e-commerce platforms to remove Bournvita, other similar beverages from 'health drink' category". The Economic Times. 13 April 2024. ISSN 0013-0389. Archived from the original on 19 April 2024. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  12. ^ Ghosh, Poulomi (15 April 2023). "Doctor's tweet viral amid debate after influencer deletes health drink post". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 16 May 2023. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  13. ^ Paul, James (31 January 2024). "After Bournvita, Food Pharmer Strikes Knorr Soup: 'Believed It Was Healthy But…'". Mashable India. Archived from the original on 18 November 2024. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  14. ^ "After Bournvita, influencer 'Foodpharmer' goes after Kissan and Maggi ketchup". Storyboard 18. 10 May 2023. Archived from the original on 3 November 2023. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  15. ^ a b Balachandran, Manu (28 July 2023). "How Revant Himatsingka Is Waging A Battle Against FMCG Companies And Bringing Them To Their Knees". Forbes India. Archived from the original on 23 April 2024. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  16. ^ a b "Food influencer Foodpharmer calls out PepsiCo for taking down video on Sting energy drink". www.storyboard18.com. Archived from the original on 3 November 2023. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
  17. ^ Das Sharma, Arnav (18 April 2024). "'Companies feel they can get away with it': Influencer who took on Cadbury's Bournvita wades into the debate over Nestle's Cerelac". Business Today. Archived from the original on 22 April 2024. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  18. ^ "Indigo says it follows FSSAI norms after influencer Revant Himatsingka raised concerns of high sodium levels in meals". BusinessLine. 19 April 2024. Archived from the original on 3 May 2024. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  19. ^ Javaid, Arfa (18 April 2024). "IndiGo upma contains 50% more sodium than Maggi? Airline responds to Food Pharmer's video". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 24 June 2024. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  20. ^ Nimje, Sonika (24 July 2023). "Food Pharmer takes on big bread brands, says brown, multigrain unhealthy". Business Standard. Archived from the original on 10 July 2024. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  21. ^ a b Khanna, Rishita (12 April 2024). "'Ketchup, flavoured drinks loaded with sugar': Food pharmer Revant Himatsingka". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 24 May 2024. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  22. ^ "After Bournvita, influencer claims Tang drink contains 'absurd quantity of sugar'". Business Today. 20 August 2023. Archived from the original on 18 April 2024. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  23. ^ a b Javaid, Arfa (17 April 2023). "Man who criticised Cadbury's Bournvita deletes video, apologises. Here's why". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 25 August 2023. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  24. ^ "Fake ORS has penetrated the market; experts urge caution as it can lead to brain swelling". The Indian Express. 1 May 2024. Archived from the original on 2 October 2024. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  25. ^ Mukesh, G R (1 May 2024). "Is Your ORS Solution Fake? Revant Himatsingka AKA The 'Food Pharmer' Accuses Pharmacies Of Selling Perfidious Products". Free Press Journal. Archived from the original on 14 July 2024. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  26. ^ "'Biggest honour': Food Pharmer shares excitement as Sudha Murty reaches out to him for research". The Indian Express. 8 November 2024. Archived from the original on 11 November 2024. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  27. ^ Javaid, Arfa (8 November 2024). "Food Pharmer Joins Sudha Murty For Research On Food Adulteration: 'WhatsApps Like A Friend'". News18. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  28. ^ Somvanshi, Kiran Kabtta (24 May 2024). "Label padhega India: A key step to build consumer awareness". The Economic Times. ISSN 0013-0389. Archived from the original on 11 July 2024. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
  29. ^ "Revant Himatsingka Creator Stats, Biography | About Revant Himatsingka - Forbes India Digital Stars 2024". Forbes India. Archived from the original on 18 November 2024. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  30. ^ "National Creators Award 2024: PM Modi to present the first-ever awards; Katrina Kaif, Kangana Ranaut, Jackie Shroff nominated". The Times of India. 8 March 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 4 April 2024. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  31. ^ Rao, Lingamgunta (8 March 2024). "PM Modi presents first-ever National Creators Awards in Delhi | Full list of winners". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 11 August 2024. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  32. ^ "Bournvita Rejects Influencer's Claims Of High Sugar Content, Calls Video 'Unscientific'". news.abplive.com. 18 April 2023. Archived from the original on 25 April 2023. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  33. ^ Verma, Mimansa (18 April 2023). "An Indian influencer has got under 200-year-old Cadbury's skin". Quartz. Archived from the original on 12 May 2023. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  34. ^ "Bournvita reduces added sugar content after backlash. Influencer calls it 'big win'". India Today. 25 December 2023. Archived from the original on 18 January 2024. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  35. ^ Gakhar, Varun (23 October 2024). "FoodPharmer Vs Bournvita: Disparagement Not Allowed But No Embargo On Stating Facts, Says Delhi HC". NDTV Profit. Archived from the original on 18 November 2024. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  36. ^ Srivastava, Bhavini (14 November 2024). "FoodPharmer tells Delhi HC he will request BeerBiceps to remove Bournvita references in podcast". Bar and Bench - Indian Legal news. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
  37. ^ "Revant Himatsingka (Food Pharmer) reacts to removal of Bournvita, Horlicks, etc, from ecomm platforms' 'health drinks' section". Storyboard 18. 15 April 2024. Archived from the original on 15 April 2024. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
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