A Bengaluru woman has been awarded ₹1 lakh in compensation after a vegan sandwich she ordered was mistakenly delivered with prawn pieces inside. Reported by NDTV.
The Bengaluru Urban District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission ruled in favour of 37-year-old Nisha G, a lifelong vegetarian who follows a vegan lifestyle for ethical reasons.
The incident occurred on July 10, 2024, when Nisha ordered a vegan sandwich from Paris Panini via Swiggy. After taking a bite, she discovered prawn pieces in the meal, causing her severe emotional and spiritual distress.
She later visited the outlet, where the manager admitted it was an error caused by a heavy rush and offered a replacement — an offer Nisha declined, saying she felt “humiliated and spiritually violated.”
With no response to the legal notice she issued on July 20, 2024, Nisha filed a formal complaint on August 22, 2024, accusing Swiggy and Paris Panini of negligence and a breach of trust. She initially sought ₹2 lakh in compensation.
Swiggy argued that it merely operates as a technology platform connecting customers to restaurants, while Paris Panini accepted responsibility but claimed a typical vegan would not usually order from an establishment that serves both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food.
The Consumer Commission rejected these arguments and held both Swiggy and Paris Panini accountable. They were ordered to jointly pay ₹1 lakh, including:
₹50,000 as compensation
₹50,000 for mental agony
₹5,000 towards litigation expenses
A refund of ₹146, with 12% interest from the date of the order until payment
The Commission stressed that delivering non-vegetarian food to someone with dietary restrictions carries serious repercussions.
“The act of sending non-vegetarian food to a vegan or a person with food-based religious or cultural restrictions cannot be taken lightly. Such negligence has emotional, religious, and psychological consequences,” the order stated.