Missi Roti, the popular Indian flatbread from Punjab, has been the subject of controversy after it was included in the list of “worst rated foods” in the world by Taste Atlas. The list, which was published in January 2025, ranked Missi Roti at number 56 among 100 undesirable foods in the world. This news has triggered a wave of discontent, especially among fans of the traditional dish.
Missi Roti is a healthy, spice-infused vegetable-rich flatbread with gram flour, usually known to be a substitute for regular atta roti as gluten-free, an indispensable accompaniment in North Indian food. In a way, including it among the “worst foods,” next to such culinary wonders like jellied eels and frog eye salad, does look perplexing. The critics, however, think that the flatbread does not deserve to be grouped with foods as controversial and bizarre as the above ones.
Reactions flood social media. Most of them express their discontent. Others announced, “Missi Roti is in the list of worst dishes in the world. We riot!” People also pointed to the subjective taste and said, “The dish list is also not balanced and has fewer options from Nordic countries and more items from Spain, which is rather overrepresented, don’t you think?” In response, some users wrote that “They can have baigan or karele ki sabzi, but why Missi Roti?.
The backlash has underscored the diverse preferences in global cuisine and the sensitivity surrounding the criticism of culturally significant dishes. Whether the listing will affect Missi Roti’s reputation or only fuel further conversations on food diversity remains to be seen.
