MasterChef India controversy following judges’ approval of the usage of cheese in the fish round

On social media, the MasterChef India judges came under fire for allowing a vegetarian contender to substitute cheese (paneer) for fish in a cookery competition.

While four other cooks used salmon, Aruna Vijay utilized paneer in her effort to win a “immunity pin” that would prevent them from being kicked out.

The judges didn’t provide a justification for their choice.

In the show that aired on Friday, other competitors didn’t appear to object.

Three renowned chefs are serving as judges for the current season of MasterChef India, which can be watched on the SonyLIV app. The judges are Vikas Khanna, Garima Arora, and Ranveer Brar.

The contentious choice, which was made in Episode 35, was given in a straightforward manner, and Ms. Vijay didn’t appear astonished to learn that she could utilize paneer.

The alleged vegetarian nation of India
Who would inform the right-wing that India is not vegetarian?
According to reports, Ms. Vijay also declined to prepare an egg-based dish earlier in the show. She belongs to the Jain religion, a group of strict vegetarians.

On social media, some viewers criticized the current judgment, claiming that the judges had favored Ms. Vijay.

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Others, though, commended her for maintaining her religious convictions.

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The producers of the show and the judges have not yet responded to the criticism.

The judges gave Ms. Vijay’s dish, stuffed squash with strawberry and basil sauce, largely favorable reviews, and she finished second in the round.

Many studies have cast doubt on the widespread perception of India as a vegetarian nation; some academics even claim that barely 20% of Indians are genuinely vegetarians.

However, due to political and religious fault lines, food, particularly meat, is frequently a contentious and divisive subject in the nation.

The MasterChef producers caused controversy in 2014 when they announced an all-vegetarian season of the program. The restriction was lifted after a few seasons.

However, although the show allows participants to utilize seafood, eggs, and poultry in their recipes, beef and hog are never included.

The majority of Hindus in India revere the cow as a sacred animal. Pork is forbidden to Muslims according to Islamic law.