Journalist Aarti Tikoo Singh recently raised concerns on X (formerly Twitter) about Vistara Airlines’ in-flight meal categorization, questioning the labeling of vegetarian meals as “Hindu meals” and non-vegetarian meals, specifically chicken, as “Muslim meals.” She wondered whether the airline was attempting to “communalize” food choices. Singh’s tweet, which included a photo of her meal booking on a flight from Srinagar to Jammu, quickly went viral and sparked a heated discussion on religious sensitivities. However, the root of the issue lies in the standardized meal codes used by airlines worldwide to address passengers’ dietary preferences.
In her tweet, Singh expressed disbelief at the meal labels, challenging the rationale behind associating food with religious identities. She questioned, “Who decided that all Hindus are vegetarians and all Muslims are non-vegetarians? Why impose these food choices on people? Are you now going to communalize vegetables, chicken, and passengers on flights too?” Singh tagged both the airline and the Ministry of Civil Aviation in her post.
The controversy drew a response from Sanjiv Kapoor, former CEO of Jet Airways and a seasoned aviation industry professional, who clarified that these meal labels are based on standard international codes used across global airlines.
“These are standard international meal codes used globally across GDS-based airlines, not just by Vistara. However, I do think IATA or whoever needs to update/modernize these outdated and at times somewhat puzzling meal codes,” Kapoor tweeted. Other users on X joined the conversation, with many emphasizing that the codes are standardized, while some argued that they are outdated.
“Meal codes are pretty standard & are defined by IATA,” one user noted.
“This is just not done, not at all. People from all religions, except perhaps Jains and Buddhists, have varied preferences. Labeling food as either a Hindu or Muslim meal is pathetic. What is wrong with using universally accepted tags like veg and non-veg?” another user questioned.
A third user explained the reasoning behind the labels. “The chicken meal is prepared using halal-certified meat. That’s why it’s labeled as a Muslim meal, to indicate that halal products are used,” they wrote.
Airline meal codes are part of a standardized system across the aviation industry to cater to diverse dietary needs. These codes, set by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), have been in use for decades.
- HNML (Hindu Meal): Typically avoids beef and pork, offering vegetarian or non-vegetarian options that are not halal.
- MOML (Muslim Meal): Prepared according to halal standards, excluding pork and alcohol.
- AVML (Asian Vegetarian Meal): A vegetarian meal influenced by Indian cuisine, excluding meat, fish, and eggs.
- VGML (Vegetarian Vegan Meal): A vegan meal excluding all animal products, including dairy and eggs.
While these codes aim to ensure that passengers with specific religious or dietary needs are served appropriately, incidents like this highlight how their usage can sometimes lead to misunderstandings or be perceived as insensitive. As of now, Vistara, a Tata SIA Airlines-owned company, has not issued an official statement on the matter.
