Story perspectives

Students Win $200K Over Discrimination Linked to Food Smells

1/25/2026

Center

Students Settle Discrimination

Aditya Prakash and Urmi Bhattacheryya, former doctoral students at University of Colorado, Boulder, received a $200,000 settlement after alleging discrimination tied to food smells.
They accused retaliation after complaints about being told to stop microwaving palak paneer, part of a broader discrimination pattern.
After filing a civil rights lawsuit, they were awarded master's degrees but barred from future university employment.
The case sparked discussions on food-related discrimination, resonating in India.

Right

Aditya Challenges Food Bias

In New York, Aditya Prakash, a graduate student at the University of Colorado, Boulder, faced a negative reaction from an administrative assistant to his palak paneer lunch, described as "pungent."
A food studies scholar states that complaints about food smells have historically been used to imply the inferiority of certain groups.
The incident highlights ongoing cultural tensions surrounding food preferences and perceptions.

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Students Settle Discrimination

Aditya Prakash and Urmi Bhattacheryya, former doctoral students at University of Colorado, Boulder, received a $200,000 settlement after alleging discrimination tied to food smells.
They accused retaliation after complaints about being told to stop microwaving palak paneer, part of a broader discrimination pattern.
After filing a civil rights lawsuit, they were awarded master's degrees but barred from future university employment.
The case sparked discussions on food-related discrimination, resonating in India.

1 / 2