When New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani was seen on video scooping up rice with his fingers earlier this year, the clip quickly sparked a heated online debate about cultural food practices and Western etiquette norms. The incident, which took place in a casual setting, has since become a flashpoint in a broader conversation about how to balance cultural traditions with modern societal norms in the United States. Some critics have accused Mamdani of defying Western customs, arguing that eating rice with one’s hands is an unhygienic and uncivilized act.
However, Mamdani has consistently defended his actions, stating that such a habit is entirely normal in his native Uganda, where he was born. “In Uganda, we even eat salad with our hands,” he said in a June interview with Bon Appétit, a statement that has only fueled the controversy. The situation has also drawn criticism from prominent conservative figures, such as Rep. Brandon Gill, R-Texas, who took to X (formerly Twitter) to accuse Mamdani of refusing to adapt to American customs and called on him to “go back to the Third World” if he cannot conform to Western standards.
Meanwhile, cultural experts and chefs have offered more nuanced perspectives, highlighting the long-standing traditions behind eating with one’s hands in various global cuisines. For example, BEX Kitchen executive chef Becky Geisel explained that in some African cultures, it is common to use the right hand to eat and the left to pass food, with specific etiquette rules in place to ensure cleanliness and respect. In Asian cuisines, such as Japanese and Chinese, chopsticks are often used to eat rice, a practice that not only aids digestion but also reflects a cultural emphasis on moderation and mindful eating.
Mamdani’s defenders argue that his behavior is simply an extension of cultural identity and does not warrant the kind of public condemnation he has faced. They point out that similar practices exist in the United States, such as eating pizza with one’s hands, which is common in New York City but often met with less criticism. However, the controversy has also drawn attention to the ways in which public behavior is policed in American society, with some suggesting that the focus on Mamdani’s habit reflects a broader discomfort with cultural diversity and the challenge to traditional norms.
As the mayoral campaign continues, Mamdani’s stance on this issue has become a symbol of the cultural and political divide in modern America. Whether his actions are seen as a form of cultural assertion or a deviation from social standards will likely continue to shape the narrative of his campaign in the months to come.