Indian cuisine is renowned worldwide for its vast array of flavors, spices, and culinary traditions. From aromatic curries and fragrant biryanis to mouth-watering street snacks and delectable desserts, Indian food culture is diverse. One such iconic snack is the papad, a crispy delight that is enjoyed across the country. However, the process of making traditional Indian snack papads has come under scrutiny after a viral Instagram video raised concerns about hygiene standards. Papads, a popular crispy snack in India, are made from a mixture of lentil, chickpea, rice, or potato flour, combined with spices and salt.The video, shared by digital creator @dabake_khao, shows a woman preparing papads in what many viewers considered unhygienic conditions. The woman was seen using her bare hands to mix the papad batter before spreading it thinly on a hot skillet. The mixture then dried to a cloth-like texture. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Akola ka Foodie (@dabake_khao)Pressing papad sheets with bare feetWhat caught viewers attention was the method of cutting the papad sheets into circular shapes. Large sheets were bundled together and cut using steel bowls pressed down with bare feet. The papads were then left to dry in the sun before being packaged.Netizens question hygieneThe video sparked a debate in the comments section, with some expressing concern about the lack of hygiene in the process. One user commented, Hygiene left the chat, while another user humorously remarked, meanwhile, another user jokingly commented, Aunty be like: Hygiene what is thatHowever, some defended the traditional practice, arguing that it was better than many fast-food processes. A user pointed out that this is still better than numerous high-end fast-food restaurants and street food vendors.
