YFLO Kolkata, under the leadership of Chairperson Ankita Chitlangia, hosted ”The Clean Label Conversation” for members to engage directly with India’s leading nutrition educator, Mr. Revant Himatsingka, aka the FoodPharmer at Kenilworth hotel. As a part of the Kavach Health initiative, the aim was to simplify the complexities of food labels and empower everyday consumers to make healthy and informed choices. Mr. Revant Himatsingka is well-known for his successful Label Padhega India movement, one of the largest consumer education initiatives in India.
Mr. Revant’s viral videos exposing popular food brands have led to regulatory action, reformulation and renewed labelling rules. His platform has influenced brands such as Maggi ketchup, Bournvita, Knorr soup, etc, to alter and clarify ingredients. His approachable style, merging evidence-backed education with humour, has engaged a generation with a much-needed label-reading culture.
Key Takeaways
- Attendees learned how to decode labels effectively: ingredient order, additives, expiry date implications, and deceptive buzzwords.
- A much-needed awareness about marketing tactics used to modify the way we look at products and mask the facts.
- A practical understanding of how to avoid getting misled and easy ways to read between the lines.
- Knowing the rights and power we hold as consumers.
A total of 97 attendees benefited from this urban skilling session on understanding food labels to make healthy choices. They understood brand transparency and what personal awareness and empowerment can achieve. Also, they gained more consciousness about what consumers eat and how to avoid getting deceived by marketing tactics. The Clean Label Conversation session proved how one authentic voice challenged industry giants and sparked tangible change.