Misleading labels fool millions: Food Pharmer urges strict rules for packaged items
Revant Himatsingka, aka Food Pharmer, says misleading packaging and health claims stop consumers understanding what packaged foods contain. He called for prominent front-of-pack ingredient details, stronger rules and more responsible celebrity endorsements.
Misleading labels on packaged foods have become so common that consumers can no longer rely on the front of a packet to judge whether a product is healthy, says health influencer Revant Himatsingka, popularly known as Food Pharmer.
His remarks come as food regulators have begun cracking down on products accused of making misleading claims about their ingredients. While recent action has targeted a handful of products, Himatsingka believes the problem is far more widespread.
"I would go as far as to say that almost every product is misleading in some way or another," he said in an interview. "This has been happening for 50 to 60 years. We've simply been turning a blind eye to it."
He argues that stronger regulations are needed to help consumers make informed food choices rather than relying on attractive packaging and marketing claims.
Why the front of the pack doesn't tell the full story
According to Himatsingka, one of the biggest problems is that shoppers pay attention only to the branding and claims displayed on the front of the pack, while the ingredient list and nutrition label remain hidden on the back in small print.
He has called for mandatory front-of-pack ingredient labels that clearly show what a product actually contains.
"If companies displayed the ingredient list and the percentage of each ingredient prominently on the front, people could make much better decisions," he said.
He suggested that manufacturers should use simple visual tools such as pie charts to show the proportion of ingredients in a product.
For example, a packet labelled as "cashew cookies" may contain only 1% cashew, while most of it consists of refined flour, sugar and palm oil. Likewise, a packet of noodles could clearly indicate how much of it is refined flour, oil and sodium, instead of highlighting only added vegetables or fibre.
"That transparency would make people think twice before buying such products frequently," he said.
He pointed to several examples where food companies use health-focused marketing to create a misleading impression.
Whole wheat noodles, he said, are often sold in green packaging because consumers associate the colour green with healthy food. Brands also highlight claims such as "source of fibre", "rich in iron" or "protein" even when the overall nutritional quality of the product remains poor.
Recalling a visit to an underprivileged school, he shared how marketing can influence eating habits.
"One child told me his mother had stopped giving him rotis because she believed atta noodles were just as healthy after reading the claims on the packet," he said.
He also warned consumers not to confuse protein bars with energy bars.
While protein bars generally contain higher amounts of protein, many energy bars contain only small quantities of protein and are largely made up of sugar. Since energy bars are often cheaper and packaged similarly, many buyers assume they offer the same nutritional benefits.
Look at the ingredients, not the celebrity
Himatsingka also questioned the role of celebrities in promoting processed foods and sugary drinks.
He said many consumers, especially children and those in rural and underprivileged communities, believe celebrities actually consume the products they endorse.
"Whenever I visit schools, I tell children one thing—don't look at who is promoting the product. Look at what is inside the product," he said.
According to him, while educated urban consumers may understand that endorsements are paid advertisements, a large section of the population sees film stars and cricketers as role models and trusts their recommendations.
He recalled a conversation with a security guard in his apartment building, who told him that many people in his village regularly consumed pan masala because of celebrity endorsements, despite rising cases of oral cancer.
"We need celebrities to be more responsible," Himatsingka said. "There are so many products they can promote besides junk food."
As processed and ultra-processed foods become increasingly common across both urban and rural India, Himatsingka believes clearer food labelling, stronger regulation and greater consumer awareness are essential to help people make healthier choices.
Misleading labels on packaged foods have become so common that consumers can no longer rely on the front of a packet to judge whether a product is healthy, says health influencer Revant Himatsingka, popularly known as Food Pharmer.
His remarks come as food regulators have begun cracking down on products accused of making misleading claims about their ingredients. While recent action has targeted a handful of products, Himatsingka believes the problem is far more widespread.
"I would go as far as to say that almost every product is misleading in some way or another," he said in an interview. "This has been happening for 50 to 60 years. We've simply been turning a blind eye to it."
He argues that stronger regulations are needed to help consumers make informed food choices rather than relying on attractive packaging and marketing claims.
Why the front of the pack doesn't tell the full story
According to Himatsingka, one of the biggest problems is that shoppers pay attention only to the branding and claims displayed on the front of the pack, while the ingredient list and nutrition label remain hidden on the back in small print.
He has called for mandatory front-of-pack ingredient labels that clearly show what a product actually contains.
"If companies displayed the ingredient list and the percentage of each ingredient prominently on the front, people could make much better decisions," he said.
He suggested that manufacturers should use simple visual tools such as pie charts to show the proportion of ingredients in a product.
For example, a packet labelled as "cashew cookies" may contain only 1% cashew, while most of it consists of refined flour, sugar and palm oil. Likewise, a packet of noodles could clearly indicate how much of it is refined flour, oil and sodium, instead of highlighting only added vegetables or fibre.
"That transparency would make people think twice before buying such products frequently," he said.
He pointed to several examples where food companies use health-focused marketing to create a misleading impression.
Whole wheat noodles, he said, are often sold in green packaging because consumers associate the colour green with healthy food. Brands also highlight claims such as "source of fibre", "rich in iron" or "protein" even when the overall nutritional quality of the product remains poor.
Recalling a visit to an underprivileged school, he shared how marketing can influence eating habits.
"One child told me his mother had stopped giving him rotis because she believed atta noodles were just as healthy after reading the claims on the packet," he said.
He also warned consumers not to confuse protein bars with energy bars.
While protein bars generally contain higher amounts of protein, many energy bars contain only small quantities of protein and are largely made up of sugar. Since energy bars are often cheaper and packaged similarly, many buyers assume they offer the same nutritional benefits.
Look at the ingredients, not the celebrity
Himatsingka also questioned the role of celebrities in promoting processed foods and sugary drinks.
He said many consumers, especially children and those in rural and underprivileged communities, believe celebrities actually consume the products they endorse.
"Whenever I visit schools, I tell children one thing—don't look at who is promoting the product. Look at what is inside the product," he said.
According to him, while educated urban consumers may understand that endorsements are paid advertisements, a large section of the population sees film stars and cricketers as role models and trusts their recommendations.
He recalled a conversation with a security guard in his apartment building, who told him that many people in his village regularly consumed pan masala because of celebrity endorsements, despite rising cases of oral cancer.
"We need celebrities to be more responsible," Himatsingka said. "There are so many products they can promote besides junk food."
As processed and ultra-processed foods become increasingly common across both urban and rural India, Himatsingka believes clearer food labelling, stronger regulation and greater consumer awareness are essential to help people make healthier choices.
