Bengaluru: A family from Varanasi has alleged that pieces of chicken were found in a plate of vegetarian biryani ordered at a restaurant inside Kempegowda International Airport, triggering a heated confrontation with the restaurant staff and calls for an investigation by food safety authorities.
The family had reportedly ordered vegetarian biryani from Taste of India at Terminal 1, near gates 16 and 17. However, they claimed that the food served to them contained pieces of chicken.
Piyush Agrawal, who shared details of the incident on X on October 30, posted videos showing the family questioning the restaurant employees and demanding an explanation from the manager and chef.
Family confronts restaurant staff
In one of the videos, a woman, apparently a member of the family, is seen holding an empty plate with tiny pieces of chicken still visible on it.
Recording the plate, Agrawal questions how chicken could have been present in the vegetarian biryani they had ordered.
The situation soon turned into a heated exchange, with another person, who appeared to be an airport staff member, questioning the restaurant employees and asking them to call the manager.
The restaurant manager and chef subsequently arrived at the spot. However, the questioning continued as the family and the person accompanying them sought an explanation for the alleged mix-up.
In his social media post, Agrawal said the family was strictly vegetarian and that even the children had unknowingly consumed the food before the discovery was made.
He said the incident had caused considerable distress to the family and hurt their religious sentiments.
Family seeks FSSAI and airport authorities’ intervention
Agrawal claimed that the restaurant’s manager and chef had confirmed that the food contained chicken. The family said it possessed the bill and other evidence to support its complaint.
They urged the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), Bengaluru airport authorities and other concerned officials to investigate the incident.
The family also called for the examination of CCTV footage and restaurant order records to establish how the alleged mistake occurred. They sought strict action against those responsible if the allegations were confirmed.
The complaint was also tagged to several government authorities and public representatives on X, seeking urgent intervention.
Incident sparks debate on social media
The incident has triggered a debate on social media, with users expressing different views on the family’s complaint.
While several users supported the family’s demand for accountability, others questioned why they had chosen to eat at a restaurant that served both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food.
However, others argued that restaurants were responsible for ensuring that customers received the food they ordered, irrespective of whether the establishment served both categories.
Some users called for strict penalties if the allegations were established, stating that food outlets must maintain proper procedures to prevent such incidents.
The incident has once again brought attention to the importance of accurate food labelling, order verification and preventing cross-contamination or mix-ups in food preparation and service.
As of the details provided in the complaint, the family’s allegations are yet to be independently established, and no official findings from the airport authorities or food safety department have been reported.