'If I make a mistake, I'm done': Inside Food Pharmer's high-stakes shift to food startup founder

Most founders worry about whether their product will be noticed, but Revant Himatsingka, also known as Food Pharmer, worries about the opposite. After years of critiquing thousands of companies, he has become one of them. Speaking at the 17th edition of YourStory’s TechSparks, Himatsingka shared the idea behind his brand, Only What’s Needed, and discussed the misleading nature of food brands with Shradha Sharma, Founder and CEO of YourStory and The Bharat Project.

Himatsingka noticed misleading claims on popular brands during his time in the US. A product labeled "high protein" only contained two grams of protein, for example. This prompted him to speak out against false advertising. He emphasized that Indians are educated but often lack health literacy, leading him to openly name brands and avoid blurred logos. He believed that by simply being truthful, people would support him.

The price of such boldness was high. Himatsingka left his job in the US after 13 years, facing legal notices and court cases from large companies. His family worried about his future, and he even changed his Twitter handle to Food Farmer Two. However, he remains committed to his mission.

The lack of stringent regulations in India is partly due to the country's history, where food was the primary concern rather than its healthiness. Himatsingka believes that improving food safety rules is crucial for the future. He has two long-term goals: promoting health education in schools and increasing label transparency with pie charts on packaged food to make it easier for consumers to understand.

Concerning children's nutrition, Himatsingka highlighted the double standard in the food industry. European brands sell sugar-free infant formula, while Indian brands add sugar to their products, hooking children on high sweetness from infancy. He empathized with adults who grew up consuming these products, but emphasized that companies profiting from childhood obesity is a tragedy.

Only What’s Needed was born from Himatsingka's refusal to promote food brands. Instead, he started his own brand, ensuring that every ingredient is clearly listed in a pie chart and the nutrition label is prominently displayed. He rejected marketing practices that rely on vague claims, such as using green packaging to signal health.

Himatsingka's approach to marketing is straightforward: his purpose is to provide accurate information, not to repeat what consumers want to hear. He declined to put his own face on the packaging and avoided using colors associated with other brands. Instead, he focuses on transparency and invites people to his factories to see the production process firsthand.

He believes that breaking the rules of marketing has set him apart and encourages other founders to follow their own path. The movement for food transparency is expanding beyond food, with Himatsingka receiving inquiries about skincare, toothpaste, detergent, and sanitary pads.