An textbook which collars meat-eaters as the scourge of society is being freely circulated in Indian schools.
New Healthway - Health, Hygiene, Physiology, Safety, Sex Education, Games and Exercises would like you to know that if you eat meat you are a very bad person.
Of these heathens, page 56 of the book boldly states: "They easily cheat, tell lies, they forget promises, they are dishonest and tell bad words, steal, fight and turn to violence and sex crimes."
If you eat any of this you are a terrible person
What's more, if you feed on flesh regardless of this advice, it informs you the taste is down to "waste products which largely produce the flavour of meat."
The Class 6 CBSE textbook is published by S Chand publishers (a reputed firm, according to the Daily Bhaskar), which prints books used in schools across the country.
A spokesman for India's Central Board for Secondary Educationtold NDTV that schoolbooks are not monitored for content.
Annie Koshy, principle of St Mary's school in New Delhi (which does not use the book), told the channel: "The CBSE recommends some publishers and not particularly good books. It's a great way for us to actually see whether teachers are reading the books and teaching what the books say."
SEE ALSO:
Further misguided content praises the Japanese for their vegetarian diet. It says: "They are vegetarians and live longer than most other peoples. The generous use of green leafy vegetables, soya beans and grams has helped the people to maintain vigour, strength and endurance throughout the centuries."
That'll be the same Japanese diet that is best known for its sushi and sashimi then.
About 80 percent of India's population is Hindu, while more than 13 percent are Muslim, according to a 2001 census. For religious reasons, beef is not consumed by Hindus and Islamic dietary laws prohibit the consumption of pork.
The bizarre proclamations come after a councillor blamed the consumption of chow mein as being behind a growing number of rapes in Haryana's Jind district.
Jitender Chhatar said: "To my understanding, consumption of fast food contributes to such incidents. Chow mein leads to hormonal imbalance evoking an urge to include in such acts," The Times of India reported.