Vegan Woman Wins Compensation After Receiving Wrong Sandwich
- Anjali Regmi
- Nov 21, 2025
- 4 min read
Introduction Food delivery has become a part of daily life for many people and most customers trust that what they order is exactly what they will receive. But mistakes can happen and sometimes these mistakes can cause stress or emotional harm. This is what happened in Bengaluru when a vegan woman ordered a simple sandwich and ended up biting into something she had avoided all her life. Her case became widely discussed because she received a compensation of one lakh rupees for a meal that cost only one hundred and forty six rupees. This blog explains what happened why it mattered and what we can learn from it.

The Incident The woman who is thirty seven years old ordered a vegetarian sandwich from a restaurant through a food delivery platform. She had been vegan for a long time and followed the lifestyle carefully. When her food arrived she expected a safe meal that matched her beliefs. However when she took a bite she realised that the taste was not what she expected. Soon she discovered that the sandwich contained prawn. This was a big shock for her because eating animal based food went against her moral and personal choices. She immediately felt distressed and reported the issue to the platform.
Filing the Complaint After the incident she filed a complaint with the consumer authorities. She explained that she had trusted the platform and the restaurant to provide food matching the description on the app. She also shared how the experience affected her emotionally because her lifestyle was based on avoiding animal based items. Her complaint described mental discomfort and a sense of violation of her choice. The authorities took her complaint seriously because food mislabelling can cause harm even when it is not related to physical health. People with allergies religious rules or strong ethical beliefs depend on accurate information. A small mistake can create a big impact.
Decision and Compensation The consumer court reviewed her complaint her evidence and the overall situation. They concluded that she faced genuine distress due to the unexpected ingredient in her food. The authorities decided that both the platform and the restaurant were responsible for the mistake. As a result she was awarded one lakh rupees as compensation. This decision surprised many because the value of the meal was small but the emotional impact was considered significant. The judgment highlighted that customer trust is important and breaking that trust can have serious consequences. It also showed that consumer protection systems in India consider emotional harm as valid grounds for compensation.
Reaction of the Public The incident sparked discussions online and offline. Some people supported the woman and said that customers should receive exactly what they order. They argued that food delivery platforms must take responsibility for errors because such mistakes affect people with different beliefs and diets. Many vegans and vegetarians said the compensation was fair because the mistake affected her deeply. On the other hand some people felt the amount was too high. They believed that mistakes happen in busy kitchens and while it was wrong it did not deserve such a large amount. However even those who disagreed with the compensation amount accepted that accuracy in food preparation is important.
Impact on Food Delivery Platforms This case may encourage food delivery platforms to strengthen their checks to prevent similar incidents. Many platforms already have systems to monitor restaurants but human errors still occur. After this incident companies may remind restaurants to update menus carefully train staff better and label items with more clarity. They may also introduce stricter penalties for repeated mistakes. This case serves as a reminder that customers trust these platforms because they bring food from far away and the customer cannot check the food until it arrives. With trust comes responsibility. If this responsibility is not met customers have the right to take action.
Emotional Harm and Vegan Lifestyle Veganism is not just a diet for many people but a strong ethical choice. It is based on avoiding harm to animals and choosing plant based options. When a vegan eats a non vegan item even by mistake it can feel disturbing emotionally. The woman in this case explained that she felt shaken and upset. This aspect played a major role in the decision. The authorities recognised that emotional harm can be real even without physical harm. This is similar to cases where wrong food is delivered to people with religious dietary rules. For example someone who avoids certain foods for faith related reasons may also feel hurt if a mistake happens. These experiences show why accuracy in food preparation is important.
Lessons for Customers and Restaurants There are several lessons from this incident. Customers should always check their orders immediately and report issues quickly. Food delivery platforms provide ways to contact support and file complaints. Customers should not hesitate to use these options if something feels wrong. For restaurants the lesson is to improve internal checks. Staff must make sure that vegetarian dishes are prepared separately and that ingredients are handled carefully. Labels must be accurate and workers must know the menu clearly. Taking these steps can prevent complaints and protect the reputation of the business.
Conclusion The case of the vegan woman in Bengaluru receiving one lakh rupees compensation for a wrong sandwich is a strong reminder of the importance of trust in food delivery. It shows that even a small mistake can have a big impact when it affects someone’s beliefs or lifestyle. The decision also highlights that emotional harm can be taken seriously in consumer complaints. As food delivery continues to grow both platforms and restaurants must be careful to provide safe and accurate meals. Customers rely on this trust every day and protecting it should be the priority for everyone involved. This incident will continue to remind everyone that careful choices matter for both customers and food businesses everywhere in the country today. Learning builds responsibility.



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