Trustified

Trustified
YouTube information
Channel	Trustified
Years active	2022–present
Genre	Product testing, consumer awareness
Subscribers	1.7 million (as of November 2026)
Creator Awards 100,000 subscribers 1,000,000 subscribers
Updated: November 2026

Trustified is an Indian consumer protection platform and YouTube channel founded by Arpit Mangal. Launched in December 2022, the channel focuses on independent, blind laboratory testing of health supplements, food products, and other consumer goods to verify label accuracy and check for the presence of heavy metals, adulterants, and prohibited substances. The platform has gained prominence for its testing reports, which have led to legal disputes with several major Indian consumer brands, including Emami, Patanjali Foods, and Amul.

Background

Trustified was founded by Arpit Mangal, a certified sports science nutritionist and personal trainer associated with the American Council on Exercise. The YouTube channel was started in December 2022. By November 2026, the channel had approximately 1.7 million subscribers on YouTube.

Methodology

Trustified states that its goal is to protect consumers from manufacturers who sell adulterated products. The platform conducts what it describes as "blind testing," wherein products are purchased from the open market and sent to accredited third-party laboratories. Products can be nominated for testing by the public or by manufacturers themselves.

The testing process is structured into multiple stages and covers parameters such as label accuracy, heavy metal content, amino spiking, and the presence of chemicals or pesticides. Products that meet the criteria are listed as "Pass" and may display a "Trustified Certified" mark.

Controversies

Trustified's testing reports have frequently resulted in public disputes and legal action from the manufacturers of the tested products.

San Nutrition and "Doctor's Choice" Protein

In 2022–2024, Trustified (through Mangal) published videos based on independent laboratory tests alleging that the protein content in "Doctor's Choice" brand ISO PRO whey protein was significantly lower than advertised. San Nutrition Pvt. Ltd. filed a commercial suit in the Delhi High Court seeking an injunction against Mangal and other influencers, alleging defamation, disparagement, and trademark infringement.

In April 2025, Justice Amit Bansal refused to grant an interim injunction, ruling that the plaintiff had failed to show that the influencers' defences of "truth" and "fair comment" were bound to fail. The court noted that the videos appeared to be aimed at educating consumers and were supported by reports from NABL-accredited laboratories.

Emami and Zandu Ashwagandha

On 26 March 2025, Trustified published a video testing Emami's "Zandu Ashwagandha Gold Plus." The video reported that the product contained withanolide levels significantly below expected standards and that lead and mercury levels were above the limits prescribed by the Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India. The testing was conducted by an accredited laboratory.

Emami filed a suit for disparagement and slander. On 3 May 2025, a trial court in Alipore granted an ex parte ad interim injunction restraining Mangal and Trustified from publishing or disseminating any content related to the product. Emami argued that the detected lead and mercury were residues of Swarna Bhasma and Yashad Bhasma, which are ingredients in the formulation.

Mangal appealed the injunction before the Calcutta High Court. On 22 September 2026, a Division Bench of Justices Sabyasachi Bhattacharyya and Sandip Kumar De set aside the trial court's order, ruling that the injunction was a "gag order stifling such free speech in the larger interest of the public." Applying the Bonnard principle, the court found that Emami had not demonstrated that Mangal's defence of truth was certain to fail at trial.

Patanjali Foods and Nutrela

In December 2025, Patanjali Foods filed a commercial suit in the Bombay High Court against Trustified over a video published on 29 December 2024, which alleged that its Nutrela Soya Chunks exceeded FSSAI maximum residue limits for pesticides such as Carbendazim and Benomyl. Patanjali sought the removal of the video and damages of ₹15.5 crore, claiming the allegations were "categorically false."

Amul

In January 2026, a Trustified video testing Amul's Masti Dahi claimed that the pouch version of the product contained high traces of yeast, mould, and other bacteria, well above FSSAI limits. Amul (the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation) issued a public clarification dismissing the video as "misinformation" and "fear-mongering," stating that its product met all FSSAI and internal quality standards and questioning the handling of the sample before testing.

IRCTC Vande Bharat Meals

In April 2026, a Trustified blind lab test of the IRCTC's premium Vande Bharat Thali was widely shared. The report alleged that the dal contained Enterobacteriaceae bacteria at 50 times the safe limit, the jeera rice at 70 times, and that the paneer subzi tested positive for E. coli. The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) categorically rejected the claims as "misleading, factually incorrect, and not reflective of the rigorous food safety."

Eggoz Eggs

In December 2025, Trustified released a report claiming that samples of 'Eggoz' brand eggs contained 0.73 micrograms of nitrofurans and their residues (AOZ), which are banned antibiotics. The report prompted a response from the Eggoz company, which released its own test reports stating that all components were within permissible limits. Experts noted that the detected levels of AOZ were tiny and did not pose an immediate cancer risk, though the presence of AOZ can signal past exposure to the banned antibiotic.

Reception

Trustified has been described as a platform that consumers actively look for before purchasing food and health products. The platform's model has been noted as empowering consumers through transparency and community-driven product nomination. However, the platform has also faced threats, pressure, and legal challenges from the companies whose products it tests.