A simple TikTok video has ignited a larger conversation about how quickly anti-Indian sentiment is spreading in everyday American spaces, including something as ordinary as grocery shopping. The viral clip shows a Costco shopper flipping over a bag of Kirkland frozen shrimp and discovering that the popular product is labelled “Product of India.” What followed was a flood of reactions that went far beyond food safety concerns.
The video shows stacks of the widely purchased shrimp before the label is revealed on the back of the bag. The post claimed that most shoppers had no idea about the origin and were stunned to learn it comes from India. The comments section quickly filled with users expressing outrage and vowing to switch brands, while others amplified long running stereotypes about Indian food exports.
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The viral post further pointed to issues such as India’s history of seafood contamination recalls and past rejections of Indian shrimp imports in multiple countries due to antibiotic traces. Instead of sparking a fact-based discussion on global supply chains, the conversation rapidly morphed into sweeping generalizations about Indian products and insinuations about India as a whole.
For many Indian Americans, the reaction has been a reminder of how quickly bias can surface in consumer spaces. The uproar appears to have crossed from legitimate quality concerns into hostility that targets the country of origin rather than the product itself.
Several users retaliated as they claim India is targeted. One of the users commented in reply to that post, “US produces less than 1% of its consumption. Global Shrimp market is dominated by India, Vietnam, Indonesia and Thailand. Shrimps are not made by Indians—India doesn’t have a top-secret shrimp factory with engineers assembling them. You don’t need to exaggerate everything.” While another wrote, “The only people losing it is a handful on X the supremacist idiots.”
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Another user targeted Americans and commented, “to expect American consumers to be able to read is stupid. Costco should know that it deals with illiterate American customers. Even putting a map doesn’t help. They don’t even know that ‘Red-Indians’ is American stupidity.” The user further added, “Btw you should stop using hospitals which employ Indian doctors. Stop using banks, airlines, etc. which use Indian software. Stop using Google whose CEO is an Indian………….”
While another wrote, “If you cannot read, how is that Costco or India problem?”
Costco has not issued a statement yet, but the video continues to trend as more people weigh in to put forwards their opinions on this episode. The episode has reopened a broader question. When concerns over food safety go viral, where is the line between valid scrutiny and rising prejudice.
“Would you still buy shrimp from India?,” the post ended with a question on X. So far, the post has managed to receive 3.5 million views.
1 Comment
lol, pretending it’s all about racism when india has some of the most polluted waters on earth.