Vegetarian and non-vegetarian food mix-ups get reported often by users of various food delivery services, including Zomato. The frustrated customers resort to social media platforms to share their plight and to complain about the mix-ups with relevant videos and pictures.
Recently, a Zomato customer reportedly received a chicken dish instead of the paneer he ordered
The customer posted on the social media platform X, publicly calling out the food delivery platform. He stated that he ordered paneer but got chicken instead. He shared images of his order summary and the food he received, which clearly displays the chicken. The user Debanjan tagged Zomato and Zomato Care in his post.
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The user Debanjan Chakraborty’s tweet reads,
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“@zomato @zomatocare I ordered paneer but instead received chicken. I have no idea how this can happen!! Totally unacceptable!”
@zomato @zomatocare I ordered panneer but instead received chicken. I have no idea how this can happen!! Totally unacceptable !! pic.twitter.com/sOvz65VcVk
— Debanjan Chakraborty (@debanjan_tuli) May 23, 2025
The tweet has sparked widespread concern, especially because India has a large vegetarian population, many of whom refrain from consuming meat due to religious or ethical reasons. The issue has prompted questions about the platform’s food handling protocols and restaurant verification standards.
Zomato responded to the post with their apology statement
Zomato Care replied to Debanjan’s tweet and asked for his order ID to resolve the issue. They also said that they take their customers’ dietary preferences very seriously and do not intend to disrespect them. Zomato wrote,
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Hi Debanjan, this is truly shocking for us as we take your dietary preferences very seriously and would never intend to disrespect them. Please share your order ID via DM so we can resolve this at the earliest with the restaurant partners.
Hi Debanjan, this is truly shocking for us as we take your dietary preferences very seriously and would never intend to disrespect them. Please share your order ID via DM so we can resolve this at the earliest with the restaurant partners. https://t.co/jcTFuGSv2G
— Zomato Care (@zomatocare) May 24, 2025
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The customer also mentioned a separate tweet that in situations like this, it becomes difficult to deal with the customer care team, as one has to answer numerous questions asked by them. He added that the questioning delays the process and adds additional pressure on the customer. He tweeted,
In this situation, it’s very tough to see how the customer care team asks you so many questions and instead of helping or addressing the concern, adds an additional pressure on you.
This is not the first time that a mishap like this has happened. Similar mix-ups have been reported in the past, like a customer in Bengaluru claimed they received a mutton biryani instead of the ordered veg pulao. Once, a Jain customer received a non-vegetarian thali, leading to a public apology from the platform involved.
With rising consumer expectations and increasing competition in the food delivery sector, such incidents suggest the need for accountability. They should focus more on mandatory food labelling, strict order verification, and restaurants responsible for repeated mistakes should face stricter penalties or suspension from the platform.
Have you faced any such incident while ordering food online? Let us know in the comments.
