Report

A restaurant in Madurai stirred controversy on social media after introducing an unconventional dish — watermelon parotta. In a now-viral promotional video, the restaurant showcased the preparation: placing a watermelon slice on parotta dough, drizzling it with oil, baking the combination, and cutting it like a pizza. While some viewers applauded the innovation, others expressed serious concerns about the health effects of such unusual food pairings. The dish drew attention from food safety experts and health professionals, who questioned whether such combinations were safe to eat.

Experts Raise Concerns Over Unusual Food Pairings

Durga Devi Manoharan, a food scientist, told the media that pairing watermelon — which digests quickly due to its high water content — with parotta, a refined wheat product that breaks down slowly, could lead to digestive discomfort. “This mismatch in digestion rates may cause gut issues and affect overall digestive health,” she warned.

However, a senior official from the food safety department clarified that combining different foods isn’t inherently dangerous unless the mixture contains harmful or adulterated ingredients. “There’s no problem with food combinations unless they introduce health risks or use unsafe components. If we receive a complaint, we will inspect the food to determine if it poses any issue,” he stated.

Social Media Trends vs. Nutritional Value

The controversy reignited concerns over social media-fueled food trends, where visual appeal and novelty often outweigh nutritional value. “Such bizarre food experiments go viral because of clever marketing, but they can mislead the public into making unhealthy food choices,” Manoharan added.

Restaurant Removes Dish Amidst Debate 

Amid mixed feedback from customers and online users, the restaurant reportedly pulled the dish from its menu. Still, the debate continues, with food safety experts and concerned consumers calling on eateries to balance creativity with responsibility, ensuring that culinary innovation doesn’t compromise public health.

Source: The Times of India