Bournvita Influence? Food Pharmer Claims Success As PepsiCo Commits To Cut Palm Oil In Lay's Chips

Social media influencers are a dime a dozen but then there are some that actually make a difference by using their reach. Revant Himatsingka, who goes by the name ¡®Food Pharmer¡¯ regularly posts about picking healthy food over processed products.

He rose to fame when he uploaded a video discussing Bournvita's high sugar content and its potential impact on children. At the time, he had a mere 1,000 followers on Instagram. The video attracted significant attention, prompting a legal notice from the brand, leading him to remove the video. Parallely, the government of India sent a notice to the brand to remove ¡®health drink¡¯ from its description! If that¡¯s not a major victory then what is?

Also Read - Explained: Why Bournvita Is No Longer A 'Health Drink' & Who Is The Influencer Behind Its Removal

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Food Pharmer Recently Posted About High Palm Oil Content In Lay¡¯s Chips

In his video which he posted almost a month ago, he claimed that while Lay¡¯s India used palm oil in its chips which is harmful, Lay¡¯s USA used vegetable oil instead of palm oil.

Palm oil, commonly found in chips, biscuits, and similar foods, is thought to have adverse effects on heart health when consumed excessively.

In a new update, Lay¡¯s maker PepsiCo has decided to reduce the use of palm oil in its chips. Revant announced the same in a post on X. He wrote,

¡°Big win! Lay's India to reduce palm oil usage! Last month, I made a video showcasing how Lay's India uses palm oil but Lay's USA does not use Palm oil! After a lot of public pressure, Lays India has set a public statement that they have begun the process to replace palm oil in their Lays!¡±

Big win! Lay's India to reduce palm oil usage!

Last month, I made a video showcasing how Lay's India uses palm oil but Lay's USA does not use Palm oil!

After a lot of public pressure, Lays India has set a public statement that they have begun the process to replace palm oil in¡­ pic.twitter.com/qAJOUdNxhV

— Revant Himatsingka ¡°Food Pharmer¡± (@foodpharmer2) May 9, 2024

However, as per a report in Moneycontrol, a PepsiCo spokesperson told the publication that trials for new oil blends for their products had already begun in 2023.

"PepsiCo India initiated trials of a blend of Sunflower Oil and Palmolein Oil in certain parts of our portfolio last year, becoming one of the few players in the food industry in India to do so."

According to the Economic Times report on May 9, the American snacks and beverages manufacturer has initiated trials to replace "unhealthy oils" in Lay¡¯s chips with a blend of sunflower oil and palm olein, aiming to improve the product's health profile. Additionally, efforts are underway to reduce salt content in the snacks. This move comes amid growing concerns in India regarding the health implications of the oils used in Lay¡¯s products. In contrast, in the United States, PepsiCo, Lay¡¯s parent company, utilizes healthier oil options such as sunflower, corn, and canola oil for Lay¡¯s chips, as indicated on its website.

Nestle India Recently Faced Backlash Over High Sugar Levels In Certain Products Including Cerelac

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In April, Nestle India encountered criticism for the excessive sugar content in certain products, including baby food Cerelac. A report by Public Eye, a Switzerland-based advocacy organization, alleged that Nestle had included sucrose or honey in samples of infant and baby foods. Subsequently, Nestle announced a 30 percent reduction in sugar levels and plans to introduce a new range of options with lower sugar content. Indian companies are also under scrutiny for similar issues.

Also Read - Explained: Why Are MDH And Everest Spices Under The Spotlight? What Is Ethylene Oxide?

The US Food and Drug Administration initiated an investigation into MDH and Everest following the recall of some of their products in international markets due to allegations of elevated levels of cancer-causing pesticides.

Meanwhile, Food Pharmer has announced a movement called ¡®Label Padhega India¡¯ which will be launched on 11th May. The exact details of it are yet to be known.