The key issue is sanitation, not whether the food is vegetarian or non-vegetarian. Poor sanitation allows infections—foodborne, waterborne, and airborne—like influenza, to spread more easily.
Published Feb 18, 2025 | 7:00 AM ⚊ Updated Feb 18, 2025 | 7:00 AM
Various social media posts blaming non-veg food for GBS. (Screengrab)
Synopsis: Social media posts linking the consumption of non-vegetarian dishes to Guillain-Barré Syndrome are absurd and baseless. The disease is spread through contaminated water and food, as in the case of Maharashtra, where officials acknowledged that contaminated water was the primary source of the outbreak. It is the responsibility of governments to ensure safe water instead of blaming non-vegetarian dishes and diverting attention from the real issue.
To begin with, let’s say with certainty that consumption of non-vegetarian food doesn’t lead to Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), an autoimmune disease affecting the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord.
However, some social media handles are spreading fake news, saying non-vegetarians are susceptible to this disease.
Sample this: “Avoid consuming non-vegetarian food for a few days as several states are reporting casualties due to Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS),” a post on a popular social media handle with millions of followers said.
“GBS can be caused by consuming undercooked meat, unclean food, or stagnant and contaminated water over time,” it added.
The post linking non-vegetarian food to GBS has its likely roots in Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s statement on the issue that people should avoid uncooked non-vegetarian food.
An increase in GBS cases in Maharashtra prompted Pawar to urge the public to take necessary precautions. However, he said that culling poultry was not required.
Addressing concerns about a possible connection between GBS and chicken consumption, Pawar spoke at the Pune Municipal Corporation’s 75th anniversary celebration. He emphasised the importance of food safety while reaffirming that no direct link has been established between the disease and poultry.
Over 200 cases of GBS have been reported across India so far. Though GBS is not a notifiable disease (any disease that should be, by law, reported to government authorities), the exact number of cases documented could not be verified.
Experts said that there is no link between non-vegetarian food and GBS. All contrary statements are disinformation.
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The social media post mentioned earlier is entirely incorrect and amounts to fear-mongering. It falsely implies that non-vegetarian food is the sole cause of GBS, which is factually inaccurate.
“While the latter part of the statement attempts to make amends, it is still misleading,” Neurologist Dr Sudhir Kumar of the Apollo Hospital in Hyderabad told South First.
Kochi-based Gastroenterologist Dr Rajeev Jayadevan said that there is absolutely no basis for the statement that one should avoid non-vegetarian food for a few days.
Dr Jayadevan, also a former president of the Indian Medical Association’s Cochin chapter, said that GBS is an abnormal immune reaction in which the body mistakenly attacks its nervous system while defending against certain infectious agents.
“While there are multiple potential triggers, the most commonly studied infectious agents include viruses such as influenza and bacteria such as Campylobacter. The latter is particularly significant because it is a bacterium that spreads through contaminated water and unhygienic food, including poultry,” Dr Jayadevan said.
Dr Kumar said that consuming undercooked meat, unclean food, or contaminated water could lead to bacterial infections, such as those caused by Campylobacter jejuni, but these infections do not directly cause GBS.
“In rare cases, an abnormal immune response following a Campylobacter infection can trigger GBS. However, the probability is extremely low—only about 1 in 1,000 Campylobacter infections result in GBS,” he explained.
Dr Jayadevan said the key issue is sanitation, and not whether the food is vegetarian or non-vegetarian. Poor sanitation allows infections—food, water, and airborne— like influenza to spread more easily.
“Without addressing sanitation and hygiene, these cases will continue to occur. The real solution lies in improving sanitation to prevent the spread of these infections, which is the underlying cause of many illnesses, including GBS,” he said.
Dr Jayadevan further said that when it comes to sanitation, it is crucial to ensure that water is clean, potable, and free from harmful microorganisms.
“Additionally, proper kitchen hygiene is essential, as is hygiene at the source where meat is sourced. In some cases, meat is sold or slaughtered in unhygienic conditions, which can lead to contamination at the source. Undercooked meat, especially like shawarma, can also be a risk,” Dr Jayadevan said.
However, the idea of broadly advising people to avoid non-vegetarian food is utterly nonsensical.
“In India, it’s unlikely that undercooked chicken will be served. Typically, chicken is either made into curry or fried, both of which are safe to eat since cooking at such high temperatures kills harmful bacteria,” he further said.
He, however, said that the exception is grilling. If the grill is not managed properly—due to inexperience, rushing, or high demand—there’s a small chance that undercooked chicken could be served. This has been addressed in the past, and it’s not a widespread issue.
“These are important factors to consider, but again, the general advice to avoid non-vegetarian food altogether is misplaced and misleading,” Dr Jayadevan asserted.
Dr Kumar said that it is crucial to clarify that GBS is not directly caused by consuming non-vegetarian food. The claim that non-vegetarian food leads to GBS is entirely false and creates unnecessary fear.
“Ultimately, no type of food—whether vegetarian, vegan, or non-vegetarian—causes GBS or any other disease, as long as it is hygienic, nutritious, and properly cooked. The key takeaway is that maintaining food hygiene is essential, but blaming non-vegetarian food for GBS is both misleading and unscientific,” Dr Kumar said.
Dr Kumar also pointed out that Pawar’s “undercooked chicken” statement was secondary and did not directly address the primary cause of the outbreak.
Media outlets picked up and highlighted this part of the statement, leading to a misleading narrative that shifted focus from the real issue.
“It is also worth noting that Maharashtra officials have acknowledged that contaminated water was the primary source of the outbreak. Reports indicate that water samples from affected households were tested, with 22 out of them showing zero chlorine levels,” Dr Kumar explained.
“Additionally, stool samples from affected individuals confirmed the presence of Campylobacter jejuni, pointing directly at contaminated water as the source of infection,” he said.
Dr Kumar said that Pawar’s statement about undercooked chicken appears to divert attention from the real issue—contaminated water—despite official confirmation of it being the primary cause of the outbreak.
GBS Outbreak: Ajit Pawar blames ‘undercooked chicken’ as cases surge to 207
(Source: Financial Express https://t.co/NBOU90JKrL)This is factually not correct.
Investigations have revealed that drinking water contaminated with Campylobacter jejuni has caused gastro-enteritis in… pic.twitter.com/E4sH1Ofcc4— Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM (@hyderabaddoctor) February 17, 2025
He said that so far, every report has held contaminated water as the primary cause of the outbreak. Officials have cited various reasons for it—blaming a well on private land that lacked water-cleaning equipment, arguing that private water tankers are beyond government control, and claiming they cannot monitor chlorination levels.
“Yet, they have consistently avoided accepting the core issue: it is the government’s responsibility to provide clean water to the public,” Dr Kumar said.
He also said that if tap water or tanker-supplied water is contaminated, how are ordinary citizens expected to ensure safety? People cannot be expected to install chlorine-checking equipment at home or routinely send water samples for bacterial testing.
“In this context, Ajit Pawar’s statement, suggesting that people avoid chicken due to the fear of GBS, is a clear attempt to divert attention from the real issue. The majority of cases have been traced to contaminated water. The focus should remain on addressing the root problem, not shifting blame elsewhere,” Dr Kumar said.
More than five weeks have passed since the GBS was first reported on 9 January. Dr Kumar has more questions:
“The public needs answers. Instead of issuing vague statements that create confusion, the government must take real action to restore confidence,” he said.
Many platforms are amplifying fear around GBS, with posts claiming that people should now be afraid of eating chicken, even at restaurants.
“This kind of alarmist messaging seems to be spreading quickly, sometimes driven by certain ideological groups or media outlets that prioritise engagement over accuracy,” Dr Kumar said.
He said that media should have room for different perspectives, but it must also report facts responsibly. Right now, we see some outlets pushing a narrative that exaggerates the risk of GBS without proper context.
For example, some reports are presenting daily GBS case numbers as if they are similar to COVID-19 statistics, which is misleading.
🚨 AVOID NON-VEG FOR FEW DAYS.
Several states are reporting casualties due to Guillain-Barre syndrome. (GBS) pic.twitter.com/7WzGU6WOW7
— Indian Tech & Infra (@IndianTechGuide) February 16, 2025
“The accuracy of reported GBS cases itself is questionable. Many hospitals do not report GBS cases systematically because it is not a notifiable disease like tuberculosis or HIV. There is no centralised mechanism for reporting GBS cases, meaning the actual number may be higher than what’s being published, but no one has conducted a proper survey. Neurologists in multiple hospitals would need to be consulted to get a realistic estimate,” Dr Kumar said.
While sensationalism can drive higher engagement, it is not justified when dealing with public health issues.
“We need responsible reporting that informs people accurately rather than fueling fear. If a story needs to reach a larger audience, it should be done with well-researched facts, not exaggerated claims,” Dr Kumar said.
He has one more pertinent question: Have GBS cases increased over the years?
“Based on what I’ve seen, there doesn’t seem to be a significant rise, at least not in a way that warrants the current panic,” Dr Kumar said.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
