Indian doctor claims paneer, milk is not vegetarian food. Netizens school her for judging 'cruelty free food'

A doctor has ignited a heated debate by asserting that milk and paneer should not be classified as vegetarian foods. Dr. Sylvia Karpagam stirred controversy among numerous vegetarians on social media by stating that since these dairy products originate from animals, they cannot be categorized as vegetarian.

The discussion began when another doctor shared an image of a traditional Indian vegetarian meal, describing it as a well-balanced dish containing proteins, healthy fats, and fiber. This meal, commonly known as a thali, included paneer, moong dal, a salad featuring carrots, cucumber, and onions, along with raw coconut, walnuts, and a serving of unsweetened kheer.

Sunita Sayammagaru, the user who posted the image on X (formerly Twitter), captioned it: "Dinner plate of husband's vegetarian meal. Has protein, good fats and fiber." Her post was meant to showcase the nutritional benefits of a typical vegetarian diet.

However, Dr. Sylvia Karpagam, who serves as the working editor of the Indian Journal of Medical Ethics, responded by challenging the classification of dairy products as vegetarian. In her reply, she insisted that milk and paneer fall under the category of animal-derived foods and should therefore be considered similar to meat, poultry, and seafood. "Paneer and milk are not ‘vegetarian.’ They are animal-sourced foods, just like chicken, fish, and beef," she asserted in her post.


Her statement quickly polarized social media users, leading to a widespread debate on X. Many individuals opposed her view, arguing that dairy products are indeed vegetarian since obtaining them does not require the slaughter of animals.

"No animals are killed to produce milk or paneer, so they remain vegetarian," one user countered. Another person elaborated, "Dairy products are sourced from animals without harming or killing them. Therefore, they qualify as vegetarian, though not vegan. Any ethical concerns regarding animal treatment arise from the dairy industry’s practices, but that does not change their classification as vegetarian."

In response, Dr. Karpagam questioned why, by that same reasoning, eggs are widely considered non-vegetarian despite the fact that hens do not need to be killed to lay them. Her stance provoked considerable backlash, with numerous users accusing her of spreading misinformation. Others speculated that she had deliberately made a provocative statement to generate more engagement on social media.

The understanding of what constitutes a vegetarian diet varies significantly across different cultures, particularly in India. The Indian interpretation of vegetarianism is largely shaped by religious and cultural traditions, leading to the widespread practice of lacto-vegetarianism. This means that while vegetarians in India typically abstain from meat and eggs, they do consume dairy products such as milk, paneer, ghee, and curd.

Conversely, in Western countries, the definition of vegetarianism is more inclusive. Many Western vegetarians follow an ovo-lacto diet, meaning they consume both dairy and eggs. Additionally, in certain regions, pescatarians—who eat fish and seafood but refrain from consuming land-based meats—are sometimes grouped under the vegetarian category. This fundamental difference in interpretation continues to fuel debates on what should and should not be considered vegetarian.