Culture and politics forum

Every book I read says its impolite/disgusting to eat with your left hand in Asia

Asia is really huge & diverse. this thing about not using the left hand for food applies only to certain ethnic groups, & usually only in situations where food (esp rice) is eaten using bare hands - rationale = hygiene (right hand for food, left hand for cleaning butt in loo). people from these ethnic groups will use their left hand when they're eating with utensils - fork/chopsticks in one hand, spoon in the other.