In a country as culturally and religiously diverse as India, food isn’t just nourishment, it is actually an emotion, a belief system, and often, a sacred choice. So, when a customer receives beef in place of chicken in their biryani, it is not just a service failure. It is a deeply personal and potentially offensive blunder first of all.
That’s exactly what happened when a furious Zomato user, Divyansh Tripathi, took to social media with an alarming claim—his chicken biryani order allegedly contained beef pieces.
This is not just a delivery goof-up; this is a serious breach of trust.
Tripathi shared disturbing visuals—photos and videos—of what he said were beef pieces inside the biryani he ordered. More importantly, he wasn’t merely asking for a refund—he was demanding accountability. His post on X (formerly Twitter) tagged @zomatocare and @zomato, pleading for “instant action” and emphasizing that the mistake touches on religious sentiments.
“This is something about the religious matter,” he wrote, and he’s absolutely right.
I want a instant action on this @zomatocare @zomato
I have ordered chicken biryani and the biryani which i received is having beef pieces .
I want a instant action on this , this is something about the religious matter. pic.twitter.com/MAMPWCbBvb— Divyansh Tripathi (@Divyansh2248) May 14, 2025
In a nation where religious beliefs dictate dietary restrictions for many, mislabeling or mishandling food orders can lead to widespread outrage. Whether you’re vegetarian by faith or avoid beef due to religious values, customers rely on platforms like Zomato to respect those choices. The stakes are high—and Zomato, in this case, dropped the ball.
Zomato’s initial response—while polite and apologetic—felt procedural. They asked for his order ID via DM and said they were shocked, promising to take it up with their restaurant partner. But for Tripathi, that wasn’t enough.
And honestly, it shouldn’t be. This wasn’t just about slow service or cold food. It was about trust and sensitivity. When religious concerns are involved, customers expect urgency, not templated replies or vague reassurances.
Frustrated by the lack of progress, Tripathi followed up with another post, this time threatening to tag the state police and even the chief minister if he didn’t get a resolution.
“You all are telling me the same thing from yesterday… I want the result now,” he wrote.
He’s not wrong. Time matters, especially when you’re addressing a crisis that cuts deep into religious identity. Zomato can’t afford to be casual with issues like these—not in a country where food is so intricately tied to personal belief.
Zomato must go beyond damage control. It’s time for the platform to strengthen its food labeling checks, tighten restaurant partner accountability, and be hyper-aware of regional sensitivities. It must also speed up its grievance redressal process in cases that involve religious or cultural significance.
Mistakes can happen. But how you respond to them defines your brand’s integrity. For now, many are watching closely to see whether Zomato just talks the talk—or finally walks it.