Emirates takes a U-turn, decides to continue serving Hindu meal [Update #14]

[Varun]

Dubai-based Emirates on Tuesday said it will no longer serve "Hindu meal" on its flights, and passengers can order from a variety of other meals served aboard in advance to meet their religious dietary requirements.

"As part of our continuous review of the products and services available to customers, Emirates can confirm that it will discontinue the Hindu meal option. We constantly review our offering, taking into consideration customer uptake and feedback. This helps us improve service efficiencies," an airline spokesperson said in a statement to Khaleej Times.

The airline serves Indian Vegetarian Meal (AVML) for vegetarian passengers. It incorporates flavours from the Indian sub-continent, and can contain all types of vegetables, fresh fruit, dried fruits, legumes, dairy products, tofu, cereal, grains and vegetarian gelatine, but it does not contain any type of meat or by-products, fish, shellfish, eggs or animal gelatine.

In addition, it also serves vegetarian Jain meal (VJML) for the Jain community who are purely vegetarian.

"Food and drink form an integral part of any Emirates flight experience and our menus are created by leading chefs to reflect the culture and preferences of Emirates' diverse customer base. We have a wide variety of special meals that can be ordered in advance to cater to our customers with medical or religious dietary requirements, including our Hindu customers," the airline said.

https://www.khaleejtimes.com/nation/dubai/emirates-will-stop-serving-hindu-meal-on-its-flights

Not sure what the rationale behind this is: they will continue to have vegetarian / Jain meals but not Hindu ones. A Hindu meal can be either veg or non veg, but will not contain beef. So non-beef eaters will have to watch what they're being served.

 

[GBK_Fan]

That meal option never made sense tbh. Good to see it being cancelled

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Is this something to do with the Atul Kochar row? I don't really understand it.

 

[Mamoon]

Is this something to do with the Atul Kochar row? I don't really understand it.

I think it is cost-saving decision and makes sense. Hindu vegeterians can eat regular veg meals, but western vegeterians are unlikely to dine on Indian veg meals.

That is the only reason I can think of.

 

[Pakistanian]

Good move. Food doesn't have a religion.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Good move. Food doesn't have a religion.

Someone needs to tell the Emirati airlines then.

 

[JaDed]

I think it is cost-saving decision and makes sense. Hindu vegeterians can eat regular veg meals, but western vegeterians are unlikely to dine on Indian veg meals.

That is the only reason I can think of.

Don't think they are stopping Indian veg meals or Jain veg meals just something called Hindu meals which I have no memory of and I travelled a few months ago.

 

[troodon]

Never understood Hindu Meal. It should be either vegetarian or non vegetarian.

Anyone who is not sure of beef in the food can stick to vegetarian meal.

 

[srh]

Not sure what the rationale behind this is: they will continue to have vegetarian / Jain meals but not Hindu ones. A Hindu meal can be either veg or non veg, but will not contain beef. So non-beef eaters will have to watch what they're being served.

read again; they already have 2 types of meal (AVML and VJML) which can easily qualify as "Hindu meal" so why they need a separate "Hindu meal"? think from a business prospective

 

[Varun]

read again; they already have 2 types of meal (AVML and VJML) which can easily qualify as "Hindu meal" so why they need a separate "Hindu meal"? think from a business prospective

Because AVML and VJML are vegetarian, while HNML was non-vegetarian. A refusal to eat beef shouldn't consign Emirates flyers to the vegetarian section, when chicken / fish / mutton et al are fair game.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Because AVML and VJML are vegetarian, while HNML was non-vegetarian. A refusal to eat beef shouldn't consign Emirates flyers to the vegetarian section, when chicken / fish / mutton et al are fair game.

What's to stop them from eating meat if they want to? Are they seated in a separate section or something where they can't request non-veg ingredients?

 

[introvert]

As long as indian food is then what's the problem?
Special food for jains I understand but for Hindus it doesn't make sense. Just choose veg or nonveg simple as that.

 

[imrankhannsu]

Is this something to do with the Atul Kochar row? I don't really understand it.

Ha ha ha. That Atul is not only a big hypocrite but also quite stupid. He is a hidden racist and got exposed. I thought the guy was decent, but his views was quite in bad taste (mind the pun)

 

[Varun]

Well...that didn't take long:

 

[GBK_Fan]

Foolish move. Should have stuck with the original decision

 

[TM Riddle]

What the heck is a Hindu meal anyway?
Masala dosa mixed with rajma chawal?

 

[Varun]

What the heck is a Hindu meal anyway?
Masala dosa mixed with rajma chawal?

"Anything but beef."

 

[KingKhanWC]

What the heck is a Hindu meal anyway?
Masala dosa mixed with rajma chawal?

Dont know but once on a Emirates flight the chap in front of me was given his Hindu meal while the rest of us had to wait another hour to be served.

 

[TM Riddle]

Dont know but once on a Emirates flight the chap in front of me was given his Hindu meal while the rest of us had to wait another hour to be served.

Did you check the menu by any chance?
Or was it just Dal and chawal?

 

[Varun]

Dont know but once on a Emirates flight the chap in front of me was given his Hindu meal while the rest of us had to wait another hour to be served.

This is fairly routine. People who have requested special meals are usually served first. The FAs know the meal, the passenger and the seat number, and off it goes.

The rest are subjective and down comes the trolley (and the wait).

 

[Itachi]

i am still wondering, what is a hindu meal? if it deals with no beef, then just put chicken on the menu as alternative option and that's it. i can't see why it is such a big issue.

 

[KingKhanWC]

Did you check the menu by any chance?
Or was it just Dal and chawal?

Thinking back I did and it wasn't listed on the menu. There was some small print which stated special meals are provided but need to be ordered before boarding the flight. You can do this online when managing your booking.

This is fairly routine. People who have requested special meals are usually served first. The FAs know the meal, the passenger and the seat number, and off it goes.

The rest are subjective and down comes the trolley (and the wait).

Sure, I like to sleep on long flights so might opt for one. I need to find out what the food is and if it was blessed in any way?

 

[Varun]

Sure, I like to sleep on long flights so might opt for one. I need to find out what the food is and if it was blessed in any way?

When in doubt:

Fruit Platter (FPML)
This meal may be ordered for dietary reasons. It may also be ordered by members of certain communities who eat only fruit while fasting.

It can contain dried fruit (without sulphites) and seasonal fresh fruit.

It does NOT contain canned fruit, additives and preservatives.

Happy landings!

 

[KingKhanWC]

When in doubt:

Fruit Platter (FPML)
This meal may be ordered for dietary reasons. It may also be ordered by members of certain communities who eat only fruit while fasting.

It can contain dried fruit (without sulphites) and seasonal fresh fruit.

It does NOT contain canned fruit, additives and preservatives.

Happy landings!

If it's apples and pears no thanks but if it's mangoes and watermelon this would be ideal for me.

I find airplane food to be average. Emirates is one of the best but I take my own food onto the plane or eat before take off. If I do take the food, I will only eat certain bits, it's far too bland in general.

I think it;s good Emirates provide Hindu's with a meal they are comfortable with, it's a great service.

 

[Suleiman]

Not many companies have the balls to change their decision immediately after receiving certain type of feedback from their customers, they get too bigheaded. So good on them.

Snapchat CEO is a huge douche in this regard, responded to the negative reactions he got for changing the format by making a pathetic and childish skit... no wonder Instagram has overtaken it.

 

[Itachi]

Not many companies have the balls to change their decision immediately after receiving certain type of feedback from their customers, they get too bigheaded. So good on them.

Snapchat CEO is a huge douche in this regard, responded to the negative reactions he got for changing the format by making a pathetic and childish skit... no wonder Instagram has overtaken it.

Any links to the Snapchat story?

 

[Slog]

"Anything but beef."

Did you check the menu by any chance?
Or was it just Dal and chawal?

If it's 'anything but beef' then why can't you just order the chicken meal to begin with rather than going through all this unnecessary hoopla?

Or does Hindu chicken also need to blessed in a certain way like Kosher or Halal meal does?

 

[Slog]

Not many companies have the balls to change their decision immediately after receiving certain type of feedback from their customers, they get too bigheaded. So good on them.

Snapchat CEO is a huge douche in this regard, responded to the negative reactions he got for changing the format by making a pathetic and childish skit... no wonder Instagram has overtaken it.

Apart from being a huge douche he doesn't seem the smartest tool in the shed regarding business decision either. Snapchat idea was a banger but asides from that he routinely makes himself look stupid. His statement about India being a case in point especially considering the amount of revenue Facebook draws from the third world

 

[Varun]

If it's 'anything but beef' then why can't you just order the chicken meal to begin with rather than going through all this unnecessary hoopla?

Or does Hindu chicken also need to blessed in a certain way like Kosher or Halal meal does?

Because there is no "Chicken Meal". There is a "Non Vegetarian Meal" and again, that may or may not be beef which understandably causes a confusion.

Don't get me wrong - I personally eat beef, pork, chicken, mutton, fish, you name it. I'm just talking about the populace at large.

 

[Slog]

Because there is no "Chicken Meal". There is a "Non Vegetarian Meal" and again, that may or may not be beef which understandably causes a confusion.

Don't get me wrong - I personally eat beef, pork, chicken, mutton, fish, you name it. I'm just talking about the populace at large.

As far as I recall in Emirates they have two options for the normal non-vegetarian meals normally where one has chicken and other beef/ham etc etc.

 

[finalfantasy7]

As far as I recall in Emirates they have two options for the normal non-vegetarian meals normally where one has chicken and other beef/ham etc etc.

how many hours did it take - the flight?

as here in uk - airplanes only provide for for longer trips - you can eat on the smaller flights - you have to pay

 

[Sidilicious]

how many hours did it take - the flight?

as here in uk - airplanes only provide for for longer trips - you can eat on the smaller flights - you have to pay

Really peeved me off when BA started to charge for short flight to Europe.

 

[Itachi]

If it's 'anything but beef' then why can't you just order the chicken meal to begin with rather than going through all this unnecessary hoopla?

Or does Hindu chicken also need to blessed in a certain way like Kosher or Halal meal does?

May be it is brought from a desi restaurant who serves no beef?

 

[Itachi]

Really peeved me off when BA started to charge for short flight to Europe.

If the price of the ticket is low, why complaint?

 

[Sidilicious]

If the price of the ticket is low, why complaint?

BA aint low mate. Return flights on BA can be 2-3 times more expensive then no frills airlines. Fortunately, I only fly BA when I fly for work when I use my miles. It was nice to get a couple of drinks on the flight home after a long days work.

 

[LongHorn]

At least other passengers get to have chicken/beef based dishes in Emirates .......

On long haul flights on EY where there are 2 meals served, the recent trend is to force all passengers to have a vegetarian meal as the 2nd meal, probably saves costs,

*First world problems* .......

 

[Varun]

BA aint low mate. Return flights on BA can be 2-3 times more expensive then no frills airlines. Fortunately, I only fly BA when I fly for work when I use my miles. It was nice to get a couple of drinks on the flight home after a long days work.

BA charge premium fares but offer an LCC product. Having the ex-CEO of Vueling doesn't help matters I suppose.

 

[Sidilicious]

Tbh, their product used to be pretty good till 2015. Used to fly them regularly within Europe and inter continental. Their product to India was not of the quality offered by jet or virgin, but still ok. But having their AmEx, and the status benefits from Heathrow made it overall a very decent airlines.

They also have one of the best miles redemption policies for European short haul flights. Given the heavy taxes levied in miles redemption in Europe, that was one of the best usage of miles for Europe.

Now, I won’t fly them from my own pocket even for intercontinental flights.

 

[srh]

"Anything but beef."

what about brahmins? they dont eat "hindu meal"

 

[Itachi]

what about brahmins? they dont eat "hindu meal"

You are so wrong in this assumption.....

 

[Yossarian]

"Anything but beef."

So it only becomes an issue when the non-veg dish happens to contain beef?
On a separate note, surely when Emirates is flying out of those Indian states that have banned beef, presumably meals containing beef won't be on the menu anyway since there won't be any local beef suppliers available to the local airline food prep outfits.

 

[TM Riddle]

You are so wrong in this assumption.....

He does that on purpose.Being a PP veteran you should have known it by now.

 

[TM Riddle]

So it only becomes an issue when the non-veg dish happens to contain beef?
On a separate note, surely when Emirates is flying out of those Indian states that have banned beef, presumably meals containing beef won't be on the menu anyway since there won't be any local beef suppliers available to the local airline food prep outfits.

There's no one single accepted definition of 'Hindu Meal'.
Heck I don't think the term even exists.
People in India tend to identity more with their regional culture than religious beliefs hence you would find in some areas even Hindus feasting on beef.

It's not as black and white as it looks on first glance.

 

[srh]

You are so wrong in this assumption.....

I have been told that brahmins can eat beef