Zomato Launches "Pure Veg Mode", Netizens Divided

Netizens are divided over Zomato's decision to launch 'Pure Veg Mode' from Tuesday.

While a section of netizens have called it a casteist move, others have defended saying that it is people's food choice.

Zomato Founder and CEO Deepinder Goyal announced the launch of a "Pure Veg Mode" service to cater to customers who have pure vegetarian dietary preferences.

He explained that feedback from vegetarian patrons prompted the introduction of the new service. Additionally, he announced the rollout of a "Pure Veg Fleet" in India to cater to customers adhering to a completely vegetarian diet.

Goyal, in a series of updates on X (formerly Twitter), highlighted India's leading position in global vegetarianism. He underscored that these enhancements were developed in direct response to this demographic's input.

"India has the largest percentage of vegetarians in the world, and one of the most important feedback we've gotten from them is that they are very particular about how their food is cooked, and how their food is handled.

"To solve their dietary preferences, we are today launching a "Pure Veg Mode" along with a "Pure Veg Fleet" on Zomato, for customers who have a 100 per cent vegetarian dietary preference," the Zomato CEO said.

Goyal explained that the "Pure Veg Mode" features restaurants offering solely vegetarian dishes, with no inclusion of non-vegetarian options. He emphasized that this mode is neutral regarding religious or political preferences and does not discriminate based on them.

He announced that Zomato's Pure Veg Fleet will utilize green delivery boxes instead of the usual red ones.

Goyal also specified that these delivery personnel will only handle orders from pure vegetarian eateries, abstaining from any non-vegetarian meals. Moreover, they will refrain from entering non-vegetarian restaurants while carrying the green delivery box.

However, a section of netizens slammed the Zomato CEO over the development.

"If the people who order chicken biryani and tikka stop placing orders on #Zomato or switch to another app, then consider 10% of your revenue gone. #Nonveg supremacy #swiggy," a user, criticising Zomato's move said.

Another user commented, "Deleting the App . I will never use #Zomato again . This is Casteist and criminal . Hope someone files a case on them."

The third user commented, "The move of Zomato introducing a specific fleet for 'pure vegetarian' is casteist by nature and against the very idea of secularism and it is anti employee."

However, another section defended the move and said, "Most of the veg restaurants in India proudly flaunts 100% pure vegetarian and veg people also prefer them. This castist propaganda by wokes on #Zomato fleet is pure non sense."

The second user claimed, "Not all vegetarians are Brahmins. Not all Brahmins are vegetarians. So where does this caste angle come from? There are other castes that are vegetarians too. My very Kshatriya Mom never ate meat. Enough of this casteism nonsense. You just wanna stir up trouble. Period. #Zomato."

Nonetheless, the Zomato founder defended the company's move and said, "Please note that this Pure Veg Mode, or the Pure Veg Fleet doesn't serve or alienate any religious, or political preference," he said.