Ragi Ball Serving Sparks Hygiene Debate Online

A seemingly ordinary moment inside a restaurant has unexpectedly turned into a full-blown internet debate. At the centre of it all is humble ragi ball. The video, now doing the rounds on social media, shows a man casually scooping out portions of ragi ball from a dough-like mound using his bare hands and placing them onto customers’ plates. What might have looked usual way to serve the dish to some quickly became a trigger point for others, who called out the act as “unhygienic" and unsuitable for a commercial food setting. Within hours, the clip sparked sharp opinions, cultural arguments and heated exchanges online. Defending the practice, one user strongly called out the outrage and wrote, “Somebody saw a ragi ball being served in a way they are not exposed to, and casually called it unhygienic. Five seconds of video shouldn’t turn one into self-appointed experts." They added, “This is a food that has nourished generations, built strong bodies, powered farmers, and working families and that’s how it has been served for centuries. What makes you think the hygiene standards were not maintained? Cultural illiteracy? Mocking food you don’t understand is intellectual poverty." Somebody saw a ragi ball being served in a way they are not exposed to, and casually called it unhygienic.Five seconds of video shouldn't turn one into self-appointed experts This is a food that has nourished generations, built strong bodies, powered farmers, and working…pic.twitter.com/CXJAqYYKeD — Karthik Reddy (@bykarthikreddy)December 15, 2025 However, not everyone agreed and the pushback was instant. A woman responded, making it clear, “Ragi is not the problem. People eating their own food from their own plates with their hands is not the problem." She added, “Serving people food using your hands in a commercial establishment is a simple hygiene issue. I don’t want my food rolled and balled in anyone’s hands before it reaches my plate. There are many ways to serve this." Ragi is not the problem. People eating their own food from their own plates with their hands is not the problem.Serving people food using your hands in a commercial establishment is a simple hygiene issue. I dont want my food rolled and balled in any ones hands before it…https://t.co/DkEbjtHmq4 — RewriteYourStory (@saaiyer)December 16, 2025 Kannadiga Calls Out Practice Another user echoed a similar sentiment, questioning why basic precautions couldn’t be followed. They asked, “Why can’t people in our country wear simple gloves? Before you’ll @ me, I’m a Kannadiga?" Her further remarks? She admitted to having gone to the local bakery to grab a couple of pieces of cake. Here’s what she saw. In her words, “The guy started picking out cakes with his bare hands — no tongs or gloves, with all the cream stuck to his fingers." Why can't people in our country wear simple gloves?.. before you'll @ me I'm a Kannadiga…Went to the local bakery the other day to pack couple of pieces of cake,the guy started picking out cakes with his bare hands no tongs or gloves with all the cream stuck in his fingersAs the debate widened, emotions ran high. One comment read, “Kannadigas are getting triggered for faltu reasons. I know someone would cook this with their bare hands, but aesthetics are important. Doesn’t matter how healthy the food is, I’d never eat if someone serves me like this. Big no!" Kannadigas are getting triggered for faltu reasons. I know someone would cook this with their bare hands but aesthetics are important. Doesn't matter how healthy the food is but, I'd never eat if someone serves me like this. Big No!https://t.co/Fghpu23bjn — Preetam Rao (@Preetam_M_Rao)December 15, 2025 Users Call Pizza Unhygienic Adding a dose of sarcasm to the conversation, another user shared a photo of pizza dough being kneaded by hand and wrote, “Please never eat freshly made pizza in an Italian restaurant. Unhygienic." Please never eat freshly made pizza in an Italian restaurant.Unhygienic.https://t.co/tTd3ZCcg88pic.twitter.com/DzUO1UXbCK— YehovaNaKapari BhimSai PreetKutty (Closet Dalit) (@jamadagnisri)December 16, 2025 Someone joined in to speak against the practice of using gloves. The man wrote, “To all the Glove experts for the Ragi Ball here is a piece of info, Gloves, at high temperatures (like freshly cooked ragi ball, served hot), soften or degrade, release additives (plasticizers, accelerators) & shed tiny polymer particles due to friction and heat." Swipe Left For Next Video To all the Glove experts for the Ragi Ball here is a piece of info,Gloves, at high temperatures (like freshly cooked ragi ball, served hot), soften or degrade, release additives (plasticizers, accelerators) & shed tiny polymer particles due to friction and heat. Food safety…https://t.co/05lZ9aeXUI — Karthik Reddy (@bykarthikreddy)December 16, 2025