After Bournvita, influencer 'Foodpharmer' goes after Kissan and Maggi ketchup
Revant Himatsingka, known publicly as Foodpharmer, calls out Hindustan Unilever (HUL)-owned ketchup brand Kissan Tomato Ketchup and Nestle India-owned Maggi tomato ketchup for their high sugar content.
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Revant Himatsingka, a health and nutrition influencer known publicly as Foodpharmer, who recently gained fame after the viral Bournvita video highlighting its high sugar content, is at it again. This time, he is calling out Hindustan Unilever (HUL)-owned ketchup brand Kissan Tomato Ketchup and Nestle-owned Maggi tomato ketchup for their high sugar content. In a video lasting over a minute, Himatsingka discusses the branding and advertising of the products.
He mentions that although the brand is strategically named "Kissan Fresh Tomato Ketchup," the company states on the back of the package that "it is just a brand name/trademark and does not represent its true nature."
Himatsingka also criticizes Kissan's advertising, which implies that the product helps children finish their tiffin (lunch) and make friends. He then breaks down the sugar content in the product.
"For every 15 grams of sugar, there is roughly one teaspoon of sugar," he says.
Furthermore, he highlights how the brand encourages customers to consume the ketchup not only with snacks but also with daily vegetables, rotis (Indian bread), upma (a South Indian dish), and even vada (a deep-fried snack).
Himatsingka also compares Kissan ketchup with a competitor brand, Nestle-owned Maggi Rich Tomato Ketchup, which apparently contains more sugar than tomato paste. He warns viewers about sugar-heavy ketchups and suggests replacing them with mint, coriander, or mustard chutneys.
On his LinkedIn and Instagram posts, he also provides healthier alternatives to ketchups.
"Healthier and slightly pricey alternatives (not sponsored): Orchard Lane and Zama Organics," he writes.
On Instagram, he includes a disclaimer stating, "This video is the opinion of Food Pharmer and should be treated only as a product review. The ads shown are from the last 15 years and feature different varieties of Kissan and Maggi Ketchups."
Recently, Himatsingka caused a stir with his video on Mondelez India-owned malt drink brand Bournvita, highlighting its high sugar content and the misleading positioning as a health drink. The video went viral, and he received a legal notice from the company, leading him to take it down. However, it resonated with millions of netizens who called out the brand.
The issue was also addressed by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), the apex body for the protection of child rights, which asked Mondelez India-owned brand Bournvita to review and withdraw all "misleading" advertisements, packaging, and labels following a recent video claiming that the health drink contains a high percentage of sugar and ingredients that may have a harmful impact on children's health.
