Revant Himatsingka, widely known as Food Pharmer, has made a name for himself by exposing misleading health claims and holding food giants accountable. With a following of 2.8 million on Instagram, he’s now taking his mission to the next level — by launching both a food certification label and his own clean-label product line.
Shifting from Problem-Focused to Solution-Oriented
Himatsingka acknowledges that most of his content so far has highlighted problems in the food industry — identifying harmful ingredients and calling out deceptive advertising. But now, he wants to offer solutions too.
“I’ve mostly focused on what’s wrong. Now I want to help people understand what they can eat — to provide cleaner alternatives,” he told Moneycontrol.
Introducing ‘Food Pharmer Approved’
To address the growing demand for transparency in food, he’s launching a new certification: Food Pharmer Approved. This label will identify and endorse brands that meet his clean food standards — not just in packaged goods but potentially extending to restaurants too.
While he initially intended for products to undergo lab testing, high costs and operational challenges have led him to focus on ingredient transparency for now. Products that meet his ingredient criteria will receive his approval, with a disclaimer that they haven’t been lab-tested yet.
Launching His Own Product Line
Going a step further, Himatsingka is entering the market with his own brand of clean-label products. The first product: whey protein, developed with input from his community. He’s working with a manufacturer based in Tirupati and aims for a soft launch in June, followed by a full rollout in July.
The brand name — Only What’s Needed (OWN) — was chosen by his audience after rejecting his original suggestion. The idea behind the name? Use only essential ingredients and let consumers take ownership of their health.
From Brand to Movement
Himatsingka describes OWN not just as a brand but as a movement — one that’s “militantly clean” in its mission. His goal is to build one of the world’s most transparent food companies, offering high-quality products without excessive marketing or misleading claims.
For now, distribution will be fully online — through his own website, quick commerce apps, and platforms like Amazon and Flipkart. Offline retail isn’t on the cards just yet.
Pricing and Accessibility
He admits the products won’t be cheap, due to premium ingredients. However, he plans to save on marketing costs and pass those savings to consumers. “If I cut 20–30% of ad spend, I can make the product more affordable,” he said.
Balancing Content and Business
To avoid conflicts of interest, Himatsingka says he won’t review products that directly compete with his own. His aim is to stay objective while continuing to educate people online — something he’s passionate about. While his food brand is a long-term play, he still earns from public talks and doesn’t take sponsorships from food brands, even clean ones.
Sparking Systemic Change
He credits some regulatory wins to collective pressure from the public and creators like him. For instance, FSSAI now prevents brands like Horlicks from calling themselves “health drinks,” and only allows the “100% fruit juice” label under strict conditions.
In a major milestone, CBSE now requires schools across India to display “Sugar Boards” to raise awareness about sugar consumption — an initiative Himatsingka played a key role in inspiring.
He continues to educate his audience online, now expanding his focus to YouTube while maintaining his strong presence on Instagram.
