Indian-Origin Author Padma Lakshmi Faces Backlash For Claiming Apple Pie Isn't American

Last Updated:November 12, 2025, 21:31 IST

Padma Lakshmi faces criticism after stating apple pie is not truly American in a New York Times interview, sparking debate ahead of her CBS cooking show premiere

Indian-American television host and author Padma Lakshmi. (X)

Indian-American television host and author Padma Lakshmi is facing criticisms after she claimed that “apple pie is not genuinely American".

Replying to a question on difference between “immigrant food" and “American food" during an interview with The New York Times, Lakshmi said: “If we just ate what was native to the United States, we’d be living on desert packrat and ramps. I’ve eaten those things, and they’re delicious, but we wouldn’t last 15 minutes if that was our only option. Even apple pie isn’t American: not the crust, not the filling, not the spices."

She was advertising her upcoming CBS cooking program, which is set to premiere before Thanksgiving.

However, this is not the first time Lakshmi has pointed out that apple pie is not American.

In an interview in 2020 with Variety, she said: “We throw around a lot of platitudes like, ‘nothing’s as American as apple pie.’ Well, apple pie is not American. Not one ingredient in apple pie is indigenous to North America. Not even the apple! So what are we talking about here?"

Following the recent comments, several people have taken to X criticising the author. One of the users said: “She seems to be an import as well."

Lakshmi has relocated to the US from India during her childhood.

“Do we really have to listen to her? My lifetime it’s been Apple Pie. We may have added a spoonful of Vanilla Ice Cream but yes All American," another user said.

News nri Indian-Origin Author Padma Lakshmi Faces Backlash For Claiming Apple Pie Isn't American

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