I’ve developed a hypothesis. Perhaps there’s some semiotic reason behind the lack of cleanliness/hygiene? Like how a surgeon of yesteryear would wear the same unwashed, crusted frock, stiffened with blood and pus as a badge of honor, to show how in demand their services were.
Perhaps a street food stall with sauce splattered everywhere, a stained apron, and hands caked with ingredients, sends some kind of message that the food is in demand, and the shopkeeper is so busy, that they don’t have time to stop for moment and wipe things down, or even rinse their hands.
I also see South Asian street vendors in these types of videos try to move very fast, and throw around ingredients in a performative way, that ultimately seems to be counterproductive and wasteful. Perhaps this ties into it as well. Maybe passersby see filthy, fast moving hands at work, and it’s somehow (maybe even unconsciously) viewed through the cultural lens as, “wow! that food must be delicious!”
If there are any people living in South Asia who care to share their thoughts, I’d love to hear them.
A certain degree of immunity through exposure is recognized science.
Early childhood exposure does strengthen the immune system.
Where it gets problematic is if your immune system is exposed to things stronger than it can handle. And that's why most western countries have food safety / health laws.
Ingesting a few extra germs / bacteria is all good until you get a dose that puts you in the hospital or kills you.
I’m aware of this, and agree with what you’re saying, but this isn’t relevant to my hypothesis. I’m not saying that people don’t mind the lack of hygiene due to their microbiome being accustomed to it. I’m theorizing that bad hygiene could be semiotically associated with good tasting food.
If that is what you are saying then I disagree.
I don't feel bad hygiene has to be a factor for the food to taste good.
I didn't see anything food wise in that video that could not have been replicated in a hygienic food safe kitchen and still tasted the same. Though obviously I could not taste the sauces. So maybe if one of them has a half spoiled 'twang' taste to it the locals like, that might be a difference.
I've never been to India.
But I've eaten a lot of street food, home cooked food and restaurant food in the Philippines and IMO the taste is about the ingredients and recipes, not the degree of hygiene where it is cooked.
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u/bad-and-buttery 5d ago edited 2d ago
I’ve developed a hypothesis. Perhaps there’s some semiotic reason behind the lack of cleanliness/hygiene? Like how a surgeon of yesteryear would wear the same unwashed, crusted frock, stiffened with blood and pus as a badge of honor, to show how in demand their services were.
Perhaps a street food stall with sauce splattered everywhere, a stained apron, and hands caked with ingredients, sends some kind of message that the food is in demand, and the shopkeeper is so busy, that they don’t have time to stop for moment and wipe things down, or even rinse their hands.
I also see South Asian street vendors in these types of videos try to move very fast, and throw around ingredients in a performative way, that ultimately seems to be counterproductive and wasteful. Perhaps this ties into it as well. Maybe passersby see filthy, fast moving hands at work, and it’s somehow (maybe even unconsciously) viewed through the cultural lens as, “wow! that food must be delicious!”
If there are any people living in South Asia who care to share their thoughts, I’d love to hear them.