Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal recently issued an apology after a Bengaluru user, Rohit Ranjan, pointed out being charged ₹2 for enabling the “veg mode” feature on the app. This option, designed for vegetarians, incurred an additional cost, drawing criticism online.

Ranjan expressed his frustration on LinkedIn, describing the charge as an unnecessary expense for preferring vegetarian food. He likened the fee to turning vegetarianism into a “premium subscription,” sparking a larger conversation. The post tagged Goyal and Zomato, urging them to address the issue.

Goyal responded within a day, admitting it was an oversight on Zomato’s part. He called the decision “absolutely foolish” and apologized publicly. He promised to remove the fee immediately and assured steps to prevent similar mistakes in the future.

Zomato initially launched the “veg mode” in 2023 to cater exclusively to vegetarian customers, highlighting only vegetarian dishes or fully vegetarian restaurants. However, the company has faced backlash before, including criticism for implementing green uniforms for vegetarian food delivery agents, which they later discontinued.

Ranjan acknowledged Goyal’s swift response, expressing surprise at how such an idea made it past planning and approval stages. This incident underscores the importance of customer feedback in shaping company policies.

Zomato’s quick action and transparent acknowledgment of the error reflect its commitment to improving customer satisfaction.