What’s got Bournvita steamed up?
The popular powdered drink is on the spot over its sugar content, forcing the company into damage-control mode. Will its health and immunity-boosting claims hold up?
Why read this story?
Editor's note: Last week, a bitter exchange erupted between Bournvita maker Mondelez India and Revant Himatsingka, a social media influencer. On 1 April, Himantsingka, who runs the Instagram handle “Food Pharmer”, posted a reel slamming sugar-dense ingredients in Bournvita, a popular powdered drink mix manufactured by Cadbury, which is owned by Mondelez. The video was circulated widely across various platforms and garnered more than 12 million views on Instagram. So what exactly did Himatsingka say in the video that runs a little over a minute? While displaying a Bournvita packet, he read out its label, claiming that half its content is sugar, the product is wrongly marketed as an immunity builder and a food colorant present in the mix is carcinogenic. Mondelez India, the country’s second largest flavoured powdered drink maker, was quick to deny the claims. In a statement, the company said the formula is “scientifically designed” by experts and all the “ingredients have regulatory approvals”. It also sent Himatsingka a legal notice on the grounds of trademark infringement and defamation. Last week, he pulled down the video and apologized to …
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