India, Feb. 7 -- An Indian doctor has sparked a controversy by classifying milk and paneer as non-vegetarian foods. Dr Sylvia Karpagam managed to offend hundreds of vegetarians on social media by declaring that milk and paneer are derived from animal sources, and can therefore not be classified as vegetarian foods.

Karpagam was responding to a picture of a vegetarian thali shared by another doctor who claimed it contained "protein, good fats and fibre." The thali (or plate of food) in question comprised paneer, moong dal, a salad made of carrots, cucumber and onions, raw coconut, walnuts, and a bowl of kheer without sweeteners.

"Dinner plate of husband vegetarian meal. Has protein, good fats and fibre," wrote X user Sunita Sayammagaru, ...