After H-1Bs, American journalist targets Indian mangoes: 'Not very sanitary, think twice before buying'

It was just recently that the world was elated by the arrival of summer's king of fruits, the Indian mangoes. Numerous reports revealed how not just Indians but even Americans rushed out of office meetings and flooded grocery stores to gain access to even a handful of these delicious treats.

While most consider this event a timely arrival of a seasonal fruit, for some it has become a powerful tool to up the anti-Indian rhetoric that drives their views. Conservative commentator and MAGA reporter Sara Gonzales is now back to the limelight as she criticised Indian mangoes and Indian immigrants during a recent episode of her podcast.

The controversy gained ground after social media user Sravy G shared a clip of Gonzales' claims on X, accusing her of racism and objecting to her remarks. In the video, Gonzales claimed she had infiltrated all WhatsApp Groups due to their H-1B investigations. She claimed she "didn't get" the cult following over Indian mangoes and their drops as if they were some "designer clothes." "I have never had that kind of mango and it doesn't sound very appetising I should say," she added.

She accused Costco of selling Indian mangoes but added that she understood since "anytime I step in my local Costco, I feel like I'm in Mumbai." Gonzales repeatedly mispronounced the name of the popular Banganapalli variety and questioned why consumers were willing to pay premium prices for imported mangoes, later describing them as “disgusting” and “biohazards.”

“I don’t think it’s Americans racing for those mangoes,” she said. “I think it’s all the people who are coming here.” She also warned Americans to think twice before eating the "disgusting" mangoes because "they are coming from India of all places, they are not very sanitary." Gonzales even proceeded to call them "poop."

Social media rages

The video received immense criticism online for relying on stereotypes about Indians and immigrants.

"Hating ‘Indians’ & their American born kids wasn’t enough. Now Indian Mangoes need to be hated. Hey racist @SaraGonzalesTX, go all you can about it with your loser husband. We care 2 hoots. It’s our �� & we will dunk into our precious mangoes," wrote Sravy G in the caption of the video.

"I genuinely found comments and reactions from Sara Gonzales deeply disappointing. Hating a fruit simply because it is appreciated & consumed by Indians comes across to me as culturally insensitive & reflects concerning mindset," wrote another user.

"Total nutcase. She can’t find a well paying job so tries to be an entrepreneur using hate & bigotry as her product! Pathetic!" one added.

"Sara is jealous because no one invited her to the mango party" one quipped.

"The Mexican mangoes which we get in US are so tasteless Thankfully, I got my hands on Kesar and Baiganpalli mangoes last week. So juicy and so tasteful," shared a user.

Gonzales is a Texas-based journalist for BlazeTV. She is known for gaining clout online by promoting the anti-Indian rhetoric that has been going on in America on a larger scale, both online and in person. While the stunt of using an Indian product to gain views is nothing new, her claims about likeness towards a simple fruit had many calling her out.