Scrolling through my LinkedIn feed one day, I stumbled upon a thought-provoking post by Revant Himatsingka. His message struck a chord with me, and I knew I had to share it with my readers. As we journey through this article together, I hope to shed light on the deceptive marketing practices used by FMCG companies, mainly when branding their products as healthy. I must raise awareness and empower you to make informed choices about the food you consume.
3.5 months ago, life took an unexpected turn for Revant Himatsinghka when he made the challenging decision to leave his prestigious position at McKinsey in San Francisco and return to his homeland, India. Little did he know that this decision would set him on a path to become a prominent figure in the fight for consumer awareness and cleaner businesses. Last week, Forbes featured his story, and today, he wants to share how it all happened.
The conventional route after McKinsey would have been to join a big corporate, but I chose a different path. Driven by a passion for truth and a desire to create positive change, I started making videos exposing false marketing practices by some of the biggest FMCG brands.
It all started with a video on Cadbury Bournvita, which quickly went viral. I highlighted their misleading claims about the product’s health benefits, and in response, Cadbury sent me a legal notice to take down the video. However, the support I received from top doctors and even the government encouraged me to continue my crusade.
As I shed light on more brands like Real Juice, Tang, Maggi, and Sting Energy, the backlash increased, with several companies sending me legal notices and initiating court cases against me. Nevertheless, I persevered, and in some instances, my efforts bore fruit. Maggi ketchup, for example, decided to change its recipe and reduce sugar content by a significant 22%.
Looking ahead, I have set four primary goals for the coming years:
- Stopping FMCGs from marketing junk food as healthy food: This deceptive practice preys on consumer trust, and I aim to hold brands accountable for their claims.
- Promoting clean businesses: I believe in fostering a culture of honesty and transparency among businesses, encouraging them to prioritize the well-being of their customers and the environment.
- Encouraging Indians to start reading labels: Many consumers are unaware of the hidden ingredients and misleading information on product labels. By promoting label literacy, I hope to empower people to make informed choices.
- Teaching Indians how to read food labels: Building on the previous goal, I plan to develop educational resources to help people decipher the complex information on food labels, enabling them to make healthier decisions.
In just a few short months, we’ve already achieved so much together. The support from people who share my vision has been incredible. Together, we’ve made a difference, but I’m convinced that the impact we can create in the next 2-3 years will be even more remarkable.
I am immensely grateful to everyone who has supported me along this journey. Your encouragement has been the driving force behind my efforts, and I couldn’t have come this far without you.
I want to clarify that my purpose is not to bring any company “to their knees,” as the Forbes headline suggested. Instead, I seek to remind corporations of their responsibility towards their consumers and the society they serve. My goal is to foster a mutually beneficial relationship between businesses and their customers based on transparency, trust, and shared values.
This is just the beginning of a movement towards a healthier, more informed society. Together, let’s continue this journey of positive change, and I believe we can inspire a revolution in the way we consume and interact with the brands that shape our lives.
Thank you for being part of this extraordinary adventure!
P.S. Join me as we pave the way for a more conscious and compassionate world, where businesses thrive by prioritizing their customers’ well-being and the greater good.
What do you think? Are you with Revant? I’m too with him!
Let; ‘s share his movement and make it a global hit. Everyone needs to hear his message.