Bengaluru Event Teaches Smart Seafood and Food Science Tips

Choosing the right fish at the market might seem simple, but a recent event in Bengaluru showed how those everyday decisions can help save ocean ecosystems while keeping your family healthy.

Renaiessense '26 brought together food experts and marine scientists at ECA Hall in Indiranagar to share practical knowledge about eating responsibly. The non-profit esSENSE Global organized the event to make science accessible to regular people making daily food choices.

Mayuresh Gangal, co-founder of the Know Your Fish initiative, explained how Indian consumers hold real power over ocean health. Indians eat 60% of all marine fish and 85% of all fish caught, meaning our shopping habits directly affect which species survive and which fishing methods get used.

His message was surprisingly simple: avoid buying fish during their breeding seasons so populations can naturally replenish. Think of it like saving money instead of spending your entire paycheck immediately, he explained.

Gangal urged shoppers to skip vulnerable species like sharks and groupers, and to check breeding cycles before buying popular fish like kingfish and pomfret. The Know Your Fish initiative provides free information to help consumers make these informed choices without giving up seafood entirely.

Meanwhile, author Krish Ashok tackled food myths that flood social media and confuse home cooks. His bestselling book Masala Lab examines cooking through chemistry and physics rather than just tradition and nostalgia.

Ashok reminded audiences that many "traditional" Indian ingredients actually came from elsewhere. Chillies, potatoes, and capsicum all originated in other countries before becoming essential to regional cuisines through centuries of experimentation.

He also debunked the viral seed oil scare. When used in moderation, seed oils provide healthy polyunsaturated fats and essential fatty acids our bodies need. The fear came from Western overconsumption patterns, not the oil itself.

His advice? Ignore marketing buzzwords like "superfood," "natural," and "detox." Instead, make evidence-based decisions that fit your local food culture and personal health needs.

The Ripple Effect

Both sessions arrived at the same powerful conclusion: individual choices create collective impact. When enough people ask vendors about breeding seasons or question diet fads, markets respond and misinformation loses its grip.

The event showed how accessible science empowers communities to eat better while protecting the planet. No expensive products or complicated rules required, just curiosity and willingness to think critically about the food we already love.

Whether picking fish at the market or scrolling past the latest superfood trend, these simple questions can guide healthier choices for families and oceans alike.