Pune Man Finds Chicken In Paneer Biryani, Says ‘Religious Sentiments Hurt’; Zomato Responds”

Pune resident’s social media post goes viral after claiming to discover chicken in vegetarian dish, sparking online debate

In a recent social media uproar, a Pune resident, Pankaj Shukla, has stirred controversy by alleging that he found chicken in a plate of paneer biryani he ordered through Zomato from a restaurant in Pune. Shukla’s post on X (formerly Twitter) gained traction, featuring a picture and video of the dish where he claims to have identified chicken pieces.

The incident unfolded when Pankaj Shukla ordered paneer biryani from PK Biryani House in Pune’s Karve Nagar. Expressing dismay, Shukla stated, “Ordered paneer biryani from PK Biryani House Karve Nagar Pune Maharashtra and I found a chicken piece in it (I am a vegetarian) I already got a refund but this is still a sin since I am a religious person and it has hurt my religious sentiments.”

Zomato, the food delivery platform, responded swiftly to Shukla’s post through its official customer care account, urging him to share order details for further investigation. “Hi Pankaj, our highest priority is to ensure that we never compromise with anyone’s sentiments. Please share your order ID or registered phone number via DM so that we can get this checked,” Zomato stated.

Hi Pankaj, our highest priority is to ensure that we never compromise with anyone's sentiments. Please share your order ID or registered phone number via DM so that we can get this checked. https://t.co/jcTFuGT2Se

— Zomato Care (@zomatocare) May 14, 2024

Shukla’s post has garnered significant attention on X, amassing over 17,000 views and sparking discussions about food quality and religious sensitivities.

Notably, this incident comes amidst a broader debate surrounding Zomato’s announcement in March regarding the launch of ‘Pure Veg Mode’ and ‘Pure Veg Fleet,’ catering specifically to customers with a 100 percent vegetarian dietary preference, a move that sparked its own controversy.