Mondelez India, the company behind the health drink brand Bournvita rejected the claims of a social media influencer of having high sugar content. A company spokesperson termed the video posted by influencer Revant Himatsingka “unscientific”, which “distorted facts and made false and negative inferences”.
While the video posted by the influencer was deleted after the company served him a legal notice, it had already gone viral on social media platforms. PTI quoting Mondelez India’s statement said the video has created “panic, anxiety, and questions the trust that consumers have bestowed on brands like Bournvita”.
Rejecting the claims made in the video, Bournvita said that over the past seven decades, its scientifically formulated product, which complies with legal requirements and quality standards, has gained the trust of Indian consumers.
“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”.
Also Read: Influencer Takes Down Viral ‘Sugar Content In Bournvita’ Video After Legal Notice
Around 12 million people have watched the removed video. Famous personalities like Paresh Rawal and Kirti Azad have shared the video questioning the brand.
Himatsingka, a self-described nutritionist and health coach, said in the video that Bournvita contains sugar, cocoa solids, and a cancer-causing colourant.
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.”
The company also owns popular brands such as Cadbury Dairy Milk, 5 Star, Oreo Cookie, and Gems.