Overview
- A video originally shared late last year showing a South Indian wedding meal resurfaced after a US user asked why people eat with their hands.
- Economist Sanjeev Sanyal replied on social media that "if you cannot bear to touch it, and need metal instruments, then it is probably a bad idea to put it in your mouth," which restarted the conversation.
- Sanyal followed up by noting Western foods like pizza and burgers are often eaten by hand, arguing the critic’s reaction reflected unfamiliarity rather than a real hygiene concern.
- The reply quickly gained large view counts and prompted thousands of responses, with many Indian users defending hand-eating as natural, hygienic when hands are washed, and better for tasting and portion control.
- Commenters also raised environmental points about using banana leaves and avoiding disposable cutlery, and the episode shows how a short post from a public figure can revive older content and sharpen cross-cultural debate.