Mondelez India, the firm that produces the Bournvita health drink, dismissed allegations by social media influencer Revant Himatsingka claiming that the drink has a high sugar content. A representative for the company labeled Himatsingka’s video as “unscientific” and accused it of distorting the facts to create false and negative implications.
After receiving a legal notice from Mondelez India, the influencer removed the video. However, it had already spread widely across social media platforms. According to a statement from Mondelez India, the video caused “panic, anxiety, and a loss of trust in brands like Bournvita” as reported by PTI.
Bournvita dismissed the assertions made in the video, stating that its product has earned the trust of Indian consumers over the last 70 years due to its scientifically formulated composition that adheres to legal and quality standards.
“We would again like to reinforce that the formulation has been scientifically crafted by a team of nutritionists and food scientists to offer the best of taste and health. All our claims are verified and transparent and all ingredients have regulatory approvals. All the necessary nutritional information is mentioned on the pack for consumers to make informed choices,” said a Bournvita spokesperson.
“As we continued to witness an abnormal and unusual amount of traction on the post, we were constrained to take legal recourse to avoid misinformation. We also issued a statement to clarify and share the correct facts to allay the concerns of our consumers.” However, the company also clarified it had “no play in actions around the presenter’s Twitter account”.
The deleted video has been viewed by approximately 12 million individuals, with public figures such as Paresh Rawal and Kirti Azad sharing the video and raising questions about the brand.
In the video, Himatsingka, who identifies as a nutritionist and health coach, asserted that Bournvita contains sugar, cocoa solids, and a colorant that can cause cancer.
However, he deleted the video after the legal notice and posted a statement on Instagram saying, “I have decided to take down the video across all platforms after receiving a legal notice from one of India’s biggest law firms on April 13, 2023. I apologize to Cadbury for making the video. I did not plan or intend to infringe any trademark or defame any company nor do I have the interest or resources to participate in any court cases and I request MNCs to not take this forward legally.”
In its statement on April 9, Bournvita said, “We would again like to reinforce that the formulation has been scientifically crafted by a team of nutritionists and food scientists to offer the best of taste and health.
“All our claims are verified and transparent and all ingredients have regulatory approvals. All the necessary nutritional information is mentioned on the pack for consumers to make informed choices,” it added.
“Every serving of 20 gm of Bournvita has 7.5 grams of added sugar, which is approximately one and a half teaspoons. This is much less than the daily recommended intake limits of sugar for children,” said Mondelez India.
Moreover, over Caramel Colour (150 C), Bournvita said it “is within permissible limits as per guidelines defined by regulations. All ingredients are safe, approved for use and within permissible limits as per the regulatory guidelines.”
In addition to Bournvita, the company possesses other well-known brands, including Cadbury Dairy Milk, 5 Star, Oreo Cookies, and Gems.
