Archive · 12 Nov 2025
Padma Lakshmi Faces Backlash for Saying Apple Pie Isn't American
Imagine you have a favorite dessert, like an apple pie.
Padma Lakshmi, a famous TV host, said that apple pie isn't really from America.
She explained that apples, sugar, and spices didn't originally grow in America.
Many people like apple pie and think of it as American because it's a classic treat here.
They feel it's part of their traditions and culture.
Padma thinks that when we call something 'American food,' we should think about where the ingredients came from.
She believes that America has many foods from all over the world, and that's what makes its food special.
Some people got upset because they love apple pie and see it as a symbol of America.
Others agree with her, saying that it's important to understand the history of our food.
Padma Lakshmi stated in a New York Times interview that apple pie is not genuinely American.
She argued that no ingredients in apple pie, including apples, are indigenous to North America.
Lakshmi's comments have drawn criticism on social media platform X.
This is not the first time she has made this assertion, having said something similar in 2020.
The author was promoting her upcoming CBS cooking show at the time of the interview.
- Who
- Indian-American television host and author Padma Lakshmi
- What
- Stated that apple pie is not genuinely American, leading to backlash
- When
- November 12, 2025
- Where
- United States of America (USA)
- Why
- Lakshmi explained that no ingredients in apple pie are indigenous to North America, sparking a debate about cultural identity and food origins.
Viewpoints Against Lakshmi's Claim
Lakshmi's Argument
Definition of "American"
Viewpoints Against Lakshmi's Claim
Apple pie is a widely recognized symbol of American culture and has been considered 'All American' for generations, with traditions like adding vanilla ice cream.
Lakshmi's Argument
Apple pie is not genuinely American because not one ingredient (crust, filling, spices, or even the apple itself) is indigenous to North America.
Cultural Interpretation
Viewpoints Against Lakshmi's Claim
Comments like 'nothing's as American as apple pie' are understood as cultural platitudes and nostalgic references, not literal statements about origin.
Lakshmi's Argument
Lakshmi argues that using non-indigenous ingredients to define 'American food' highlights a broader point about how diverse influences shape national cuisine, questioning superficial definitions.
- Subject
- Padma Lakshmi's comments on apple pie
- Interview Source
- The New York Times
- Reason for Interview
- Promoting her upcoming CBS cooking show
- Previous Comments
- Made similar remarks in a 2020 Variety interview
- Criticism Platform
- X (formerly Twitter)
- Lakshmi's Background
- Indian-American television host and author, moved to the US from India in childhood