A simple craving for a vegan sandwich turned into a legal battle in Bengaluru after a woman discovered prawn pieces in her order. The consumer commission has now directed Swiggy and the restaurant to pay her Rs 1 lakh in compensation for negligence.
The complainant, 37-year-old Nisha G, a lifelong vegetarian who turned vegan out of love for animals, ordered a vegan sandwich from Paris Panini via Swiggy on July 10, 2024. She took a bite and noticed an unusual taste. On checking, she found prawn pieces inside the sandwich, triggering panic and cleansing rituals, Times of India reported.
The next day, Nisha visited the Paris Panini outlet, where the manager admitted the mix-up, blaming it on “heavy rush.” The restaurant offered a replacement, but Nisha refused, saying she felt “humiliated and spiritually violated.”
Eatery says: 'A normal vegan would not have...'
On July 20, 2024, Nisha sent legal notices to both Swiggy and Paris Panini, but neither responded. On August 22, 2024, she filed a consumer complaint alleging deficiency in service and betrayal of trust, seeking Rs 2 lakh in compensation.
Swiggy argued that it was only a technology intermediary connecting customers with restaurants, and that the contract of sale existed solely between the buyer and the restaurant. Paris Panini admitted the error but called it an unintentional mistake during peak hours, but added that “a normal vegan would not have chosen our restaurant, as we serve both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food.”
Commission’s ruling: ‘Not a simple mistake’
The Bengaluru Urban District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission ruled that delivering non-vegetarian food to a vegan "amounts to a grave deficiency in service".
"The act of sending non-vegetarian food to a vegan or a person having certain food restrictions on the basis of religion, culture or health, cannot be taken lightly," the order stated. "Such negligence has emotional, religious, and psychological consequences.”
The commission directed Swiggy and Paris Panini to jointly pay, Rs 50,000 as compensation, Rs 50,000 for mental agony, Rs 5,000 towards litigation costs, and a refund of Rs 146 (cost of the sandwich) with 12 percent annual interest from the date of the order till realisation.
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