Woman in Bengaluru Gets Rs 1 Lakh Compensation After Finding Prawn in Vegan Sandwich

A Bengaluru consumer court has granted Rs 1 lakh in compensation to a woman who accidentally received a non-vegetarian ingredient in a vegan sandwich she had ordered. The ruling came in favour of 37 year old Nisha G, a lifelong vegetarian who later embraced veganism for ethical reasons.

How the Incident Unfolded

The matter began on July 10, 2024, when Nisha ordered a vegan sandwich from Paris Panini through Swiggy. After taking a bite, she was shocked to find prawn pieces inside. The experience caused severe distress, leading her to perform cleansing rituals.

The following day, she visited the restaurant to report the issue. The outlet manager accepted the error and attributed it to a heavy rush during peak hours. Although they offered a replacement, Nisha refused, stating that she felt "humiliated and spiritually violated".

Legal Steps Taken by the Customer

Unhappy with the response, Nisha decided to pursue formal action. She sent a legal notice to Swiggy and Paris Panini on July 20, 2024, but received no reply. This prompted her to file a consumer complaint on August 22, alleging deficiency in service and breach of trust. She sought Rs 2 lakh in compensation for the distress caused.

Swiggy argued that it functioned only as a technology platform connecting customers and restaurants, claiming that the agreement existed between the consumer and the food outlet. Paris Panini admitted the mistake was genuine but maintained that a typical vegan would not choose a restaurant that prepared both vegetarian and non-vegetarian items.

Commission's Final Ruling

The Bengaluru Urban District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission ruled in Nisha's favour and directed Swiggy and Paris Panini to jointly pay Rs 1 lakh. The order included Rs 50,000 as compensation, Rs 50,000 for mental agony, litigation costs of Rs 5,000, and a refund of Rs 146 along with 12 percent annual interest from the date of the order until payment.

While issuing the decision, the commission observed, "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. Such negligence has emotional, religious, and psychological consequences."