Journalist Aarti Tikoo Singh recently criticized Vistara for labeling its in-flight meals as “Hindu” for vegetarian options and “Muslim” for chicken, accusing the airline of communalizing food.
“Who told you that all Hindus are vegetarian and all Muslims are non-vegetarian?” Tikoo challenged the airline. She also questioned whether Vistara was attempting to associate food choices with religious identity, asking, “Are you now going to communalise vegetables, chicken and passengers on a flight too?”
Tikoo expressed her shock at Vistara’s approach by booking both meal options for her flight from Srinagar to Jammu, sharing a screenshot of her ticket which indicated one “Hindu meal” and one “Moslem meal.”
However, several social media users informed Tikoo that meal codes are standardized industry-wide, not set by Vistara. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) provides these codes to streamline meal management and communication across airlines and catering services.
“FYI in general aviation parlance, a Hindu Meal (HNML) is NOT necessarily a Veg meal—it could be a Non-Veg meal that is not Halal,” explained Sanjay Lazar, CEO of Avialaz Consultants. “Similarly, a Moslem meal (MOML) is a Non-Vegetarian meal that is HALAL,” he added.
Aviation expert Sanjiv Kapoor, former CEO-designate of Jet Airways, also clarified that these meal codes are used globally across GDS-based airlines, though he acknowledged they may be outdated. “These are standard international meal codes used globally across GDS-based airlines, not just by Vistara. However, I do think IATA or whoever needs to update / modernize these outdated and at times somewhat puzzling meal codes,” Kapoor wrote.
Vistara’s website does not refer to meals as Hindu or Muslim. Instead, it offers a range of vegetarian options, including the “Vegetarian Vegan Meal (VGML)” with no animal products, “Vegetarian Jain Meal (VJML)” excluding root and bulbous vegetables, and “Vegetarian Lacto-ovo Meal (VLML)” which may contain eggs and dairy.