Vistara Calls Its Vegetarian Meals ‘Hindu’ And Non-Veg Meals ‘Muslim’. Is This True?

Vistara has faced criticism for labelling all in-flight vegetarian meals as “Hindu meals” and chicken dishes as “Muslim meals.” Journalist Aarti Tikoo Singh claimed on social media that she ordered both meal selections since she was so outraged by the airline’s “pitiful actions.” She posted a screenshot of her Srinagar to Jammu ticket, indicating that she had reserved one “Hindu meal” and one “Moslem meal” for the short journey. Tikoo accused the airline of communalising meals. She was, however, schooled on the rationale behind aircraft food labelling and her claims were dismissed.

Sharing the post on X (formerly Twitter), Tikoo wrote, “Who told you that all Hindus are vegetarian and all Muslims are non-vegetarian? Why are you thrusting food choices on people? Who authorised you to do this?”

Tikoo was informed by many social media users that aircraft meal codes are industry-wide standards rather than ones set by Vistara.

Standardised meal codes are provided by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to facilitate effective management and communication of meal requirements by airlines, catering suppliers and ground personnel, as well as to maintain some degree of uniformity within them.

A user explained that a Hindu meal (HNML) is “not necessarily a Veg meal” because it might be a non-vegetarian meal that is “not halal.” These terms are used in common aviation parlance.

Likewise, a Moslem meal (MOML) is a halal, non-vegetarian meal.

According to the user, a vegetarian meal is one that is entirely vegetarian.

Notably, the word “halal” refers to food that follows Islamic dietary requirements and means “lawful”.

Sanjiv Kapoor, the former CEO-designate of Jet Airways and a veteran of the aviation industry, gave a similar justification while conceding that the meal codes might not be relevant.

According to Kapoor, these are common international meal codes that are utilised by all GDS-based airlines worldwide. He went on to say that “IATA or whoever needs to update/modernise these outdated and at times somewhat puzzling meal codes.”

Another user pointed out that since the chicken meal you eat is prepared with certified halal meat, labelling it as a Muslim meal implies that halal ingredients are utilised.

A number of individuals echoed the journalist’s observations, while others brought up similar points.