When shawarma turns vegan
This tweaked version of the much-loved meal of Malayalis is on the menu at Grasshopper Gastronomics, a Thiruvananthapuram-based food tech startup, which takes a bold leap into the food arena with the world's first ready-to-eat vegan shawarma.
Now, what turns heads is not about how shawarma could be made without meat; it is about what makes up for its absence. The cheat ingredient here is the quintessential jackfruit, Kerala's own comfort food, which is cleverly done up in spices to replicate the texture and taste of traditional shawarma. Yet there is no oil, no preservatives, and no animal products.
Behind this culinary revolution is Kannan Parakunnel, who did not start out as a food entrepreneur. His journey began with a deeply personal crisis during the Covid pandemic when his mother was diagnosed with cancer. It was then that Kannan started rethinking everything, especially food. 'Eating healthy makes a person healthy,' he found himself believing. And from that thought, Grasshopper Gastronomics was born.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Economic Times
34 minutes ago
- Economic Times
Health Canada recalls baby nests sold under 'eleven' brand over strangulation and entrapment risks
Synopsis Health Canada has recalled 3,007 BChic and Chicure model baby nests sold under the 'eleven' brand due to fall, strangulation, and entrapment hazards. Sold between February 2020 and July 2025, these soft, fabric-lined nests pose a risk to infants. Consumers are urged to stop using them immediately and dispose of them safely. TIL Creatives Baby nests recalled in Canada amid serious hazards including strangulation and falls Health Canada has issued an urgent recall for two popular infant sleep products after determining they pose serious safety risks, including fall, strangulation, and entrapment hazards. The recall applies to the BChic and Chicure model baby nests sold under the 'eleven' brand by Montreal-based company CHIC BABY. In total, 3,007 units were sold in Canada between February 2020 and July products, soft, fabric-lined cushioned nests, were sold in multiple prints and included a head pillow. The Chicure model, notably, folds into a portable handbag with a carrying handle. All recalled units are marked with a tag labeled 'eleven.'While no injuries or incidents have been reported as of July 18, 2025, Health Canada is urging consumers to stop using the nests immediately and to dispose of them in a way that prevents have long warned against the use of soft-sided sleep accessories for infants. The American Academy of Pediatrics and Health Canada both emphasize that babies should sleep alone, on their back, on a firm and flat surface with no soft bedding or padding. Health Canada urges consumers to: Stop using the recalled products immediately Dispose of them safely so they cannot be reused or resold Contact CHIC BABY via email at info@ for further assistance Consumers are also encouraged to report any related incidents through the Consumer Product Incident Report Form on Health Canada's website. For additional information and updates, parents and caregivers can review Health Canada's official safe sleep guidelines.
Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
‘Highest road tax, highest road torture': Bengaluru doctor's viral post reignites outrage over bad traffic
A Bengaluru-based doctor's scathing critique of the city's failing civic infrastructure has struck a chord with thousands of residents fed up with endless traffic snarls and neglected roads. Dr Nandita Iyer, visibly frustrated after being stuck in traffic for nearly three hours to cover just 15 km via Varthur, took to social media to call out what she described as 'total civic chaos' in India's tech capital. Bengaluru doctor has called out the terrible traffic management in the city. (PTI) Also Read - 'Every kid in Bengaluru should study in Kannada': Zoho's Sridhar Vembu slams English-medium obsession Take a look at the post 'Bengaluru has the highest road tax in India — and also the highest suffering on the road,' Dr Iyer wrote in a strongly worded post. 'Giant pothole-ridden roads, endless bottlenecks, zero traffic policing, and rampant wrong-side driving. It's heartbreaking and disappointing.' Her post, shared on X, quickly resonated with citizens who face similar ordeals on a daily basis. While narrating her ordeal, Dr Iyer also expressed frustration over what she termed the government's apathy towards law-abiding, tax-paying citizens. 'There's no incentive to follow the rules, and no consequences for those who break them with impunity,' she said, adding that she fears nothing will change despite speaking out. Also Read - Bengaluru Metro becomes lifeline: Liver transported via Namma Metro for transplant in landmark operation 'There is no accountability. Our taxes aren't improving our lives, they're just lining politicians' pockets,' she wrote, summing up the collective disappointment felt by many urban Indians. Her remarks have triggered widespread debate online, with several users chiming in from other metros like Mumbai and Pune, sharing their own grievances. 'You're not alone. The situation is equally bad in Pune and we prioritized flashy airports and stadiums over basic infrastructure like roads,' one user commented. Another pointed out the health risks such long commutes pose, especially for daily travelers navigating such road conditions.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
2 hours ago
- Business Standard
The contagion scale: From measles to TB which disease spread fastest?
When the Covid pandemic hit, many people turned to the eerily prescient film Contagion (2011) for answers – or at least for catharsis. Suddenly, its hypothetical plot felt all too real. Applauded for its scientific accuracy, the film offered more than suspense – it offered lessons. One scene in particular stands out. Kate Winslet's character delivers a concise lesson on the infectious power of various pathogens – explaining how they can be spread from our hands to the many objects we encounter each day – 'door knobs, water fountains, elevator buttons and each other'. These everyday objects, known as fomites, can become silent vehicles for infection. She also considered how each infection is given a value called R0 (or R-nought) based on how many other people are likely to become infected from another. So, for an R0 of two, each infected patient will spread the disease to two others. Who will collectively then give it to four more. And so a breakout unfolds. The R0 measure indicates how an infection will spread in a population. If it's greater than one (as seen above), the outcome is disease spread. An R0 of one means the level of people being infected will remain stable, and if it's less than one, the disease will often die out with time. Circulating infections spread through a variety of routes and differ widely in how contagious they are. Some are transmitted via droplets or aerosols – such as those released through coughing or sneezing – while others spread through blood, insects (like ticks and mosquitoes), or contaminated food and water. But if we step back to think about how we can protect ourselves from developing an infectious disease, one important lesson is in understanding how they spread. And as we'll see, it's also a lesson in protecting others, not just ourselves. Here is a rundown of some of the most and least infectious diseases on the planet. In first place for most contagious is measles. Measles has made a resurgence globally in recent years, including in high-income countries like the UK and US. While several factors contribute to this trend, the primary cause is a decline in childhood vaccination rates. This drop has been driven by disruptions such as the Covid pandemic and global conflict, as well as the spread of misinformation about vaccine safety. The R0 number for measles is between 12 and 18. If you do the maths, two cycles of transmission from that first infected person could lead to 342 people catching the illness. That's a staggering number from just one patient – but luckily, the protective power of vaccination helps reduce the actual spread by lowering the number of people susceptible to infection. Measles is extraordinarily virulent, spreading through tiny airborne particles released during coughing or sneezing. It doesn't even require direct contact. It's so infectious that an unvaccinated person can catch the virus just by entering a room where an infected person was present two hours earlier. People can also be infectious and spread the virus before they develop symptoms or have any reason to isolate. Other infectious diseases with high R0 values include pertussis, or whooping cough (12 to 17), chickenpox (ten to 12), and Covid, which varies by subtype but generally falls between eight and 12. While many patients recover fully from these conditions, they can still lead to serious complications, including pneumonia, seizures, meningitis, blindness, and, in some cases, death. Low spread, high stakes At the other end of the spectrum, a lower infectivity rate doesn't mean a disease is any less dangerous. Take tuberculosis (TB), for example, which has an R0 ranging from less than one up to four. This range varies depending on local factors like living conditions and the quality of available healthcare. Caused by the bacterium] Mycobacterium tuberculosis, TB is also airborne but spreads more slowly, usually requiring prolonged close contact with someone with the active disease. Outbreaks tend to occur among people who share living spaces – such as families, households, and in shelters or prisons. The real danger with TB lies in how difficult it is to treat. Once established, it requires a combination of four antibiotics taken over a minimum of six months. Standard antibiotics like penicillin are ineffective, and the infection can spread beyond the lungs to other parts of the body, including the brain, bones, liver and joints. What's more, cases of drug-resistant TB are on the rise, where the bacteria no longer respond to one or more of the antibiotics used in treatment. Other diseases with lower infectivity include Ebola – which is highly fatal but spreads through close physical contact with bodily fluids. Its R0 ranges from 1.5 to 2.5. Diseases with the lowest R0 values – below one – include Middle East respiratory syndrome (Mers), bird flu and leprosy. While these infections are less contagious, their severity and potential complications should not be underestimated. The threat posed by any infectious disease depends not only on how it affects the body, but also on how easily it spreads. Preventative measures like immunisation play a vital role – not just in protecting people, but also in limiting transmission to those who cannot receive some vaccinations – such as infants, pregnant women and people with severe allergies or weakened immune systems. These individuals are also more vulnerable to infection in general. This is where herd immunity becomes essential. By achieving widespread immunity within the population, we help protect people who are most susceptible.
