CLAIM: 

Consuming fish and milk together or one after other can lead to vitiligo.

FACT: 

This is a myth; there is no scientific evidence supporting this idea, as vitiligo is primarily caused by autoimmune factors, not dietary combinations.

'Don't have milk and fish together!'

This is a common warning that many of our elders have probably told us. The fear is that the combination can cause vitiligo, a condition which causes pale white patches to appear on one's skin.

This age-old belief is still alive and thriving, with posts on social media amplifying the claims. First Check came across an Instagram reel by comedian Md Anas (@ex_dee_anas) referring to this myth in a comedy sketch. The reel has got over 69,000 views and over 5,000 likes on the platform.

"Mere dost ke skin ke upar white chakatte padd gaye hai, .. usne zaroor machili ke upar doodh pee liya hoga, classic mistake yaar," he says in the reel.

First Check has debunked this myth in the past too, however, it is still popular. It does not appear as if the comedian is supporting the myth in his video, but is only using it as a trope to make a joke. However, the comments on the video show that this is a popular health-related claim that multiple people have heard through their lives.

Research has well established that there is no scientific evidence to link the consumption of milk and fish together, and the occurrence of vitiligo.

“The simultaneous consumption of milk and fish is also discouraged (for vitiligo patients). Although there are numerous websites that host dietary advice for vitiligo patients, there is no scientific data to support or refute these beliefs,” according to a review article published in the peer-reviewed Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology (IJDVL).

First Check also spoke to Dr Kapil Umesh at the AIIMS New Delhi, who specializes in nutrition, to ascertain the facts, who echoed these findings.

"Consuming fish, milk or any food depends on our body's ability to digest the said food. People might be allergic to a certain food and therefore would not be able to digest it, or their bodies might have a severe reaction to what they consumed," he said.

However, beyond that, he said it could not cause conditions such as vitiligo. "This is an old saying we all have grown up hearing but there is no truth to it, vitiligo or such diseases are not caused by diets even if one is predisposed to an allergy. There are visible conditions that are caused by dietary factors, but vitiligo is not among them," he explained.

First Check would like to conclude by reasserting that Vitiligo is not caused due to any dietary habits, nor is consuming fish and milk together lead to vitiligo.

Also read: FACT CHECK: Should Keralites give up milk? - First Check