Sylvia Karpagam questions caste bias in India’s food policy

Public health doctor Dr Sylvia Karpagam on Tuesday questioned why animal-sourced foods like eggs, fish and meat are often excluded from public nutrition discussions, while certain vegetarian foods are promoted as healthier. Speaking at the launch of her book 'The Meat of the Matter' in Bengaluru, she argued that caste and privilege determine who gets to decide what Indians eat. She criticised the normalisation of food-based segregation in schools and colleges, and said food policies should not be made only by vegetarians.

Karpagam noted that 83.4% of men and 70.6% of women aged 15-49 eat non-vegetarian food daily, weekly or occasionally, per NFHS-5 data. Only four states, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Gujarat, have less than 50% meat eaters. She also questioned the accessibility of veganism, asking who can afford the time, resources and supplements. Karpagam said it was a 'shame' that midday meals in Karnataka were being handled by a private organisation, and that the government should support them.