Text on the Pepsi bottle informs you that it „Contains no fruit“. Packet of biscuits proudly states that they „Contain synthetic flavourings and colourings“. In a box with a picture of happy mango swimming in mango juice is no mango – Text on the packaging says „Contains no fruit juice“. And Indian advertisments for soft drinks were known to boast „Contains absolutely no natural ingredients!“
It seems that Indians do not trust nature not the slightest bit. Though more likely the thought pattern synthetic = modern and progressive and urban and end of shameful rural past is at work. Interestingly the urban middle class starts to see things differently and imitating western world flirts with bio-vegetables and is not impressed with synthetic colourings anymore.
And then there is the baseless Indian self confidence that knows no bounds. In this case: „Look, mango juice! And we did not need any mango to make it! Ain't we clever! We do not need nature at all!“ Which together with living now is often quite deadly. Literaly.
Peace: Everything in India is synthetic. Not just food. Turn on the TV. All the shows and half of the movies are shot in studios. Unashamedly and proudly. In the end even the storylines and characters tend to be sort of artificial.
