Zomato to keep colour...

Explaining the details of the plan, Goyal said that the ‘pure veg mode’ would have a selection of restaurants that serve only vegetarian food. To ensure that vegetarians do not receive food that could be compromised by contact with non-vegetarian dishes, even vegetarian deliveries from ‘nonveg’ eateries would not be carried in vehicles from the regular fleet. This would rule out the possibility of contamination – even inadvertently – in kitchens that cook both varieties of food.

Goyal clarified that the purpose of the segregation of vehicle fleets and delivery staff was not ‘to alienate any religion or political preference’. He said that similar features were proposed for foods that need special care during transportation. This means vehicles with hydraulic balance would be put into service, thereby preventing cakes from getting smooshed.

But vegetarians are sceptical about the idea. There are also unanswered questions. Pankaj Shah of the Vegetarian Society said, “What if I want to order a vegetarian dish from a nonvegetarian restaurant?”

While Shah’s question has been answered by Goyal’s statement that vegetarian meals from both vegetarian and non-vegetarian restaurants will travel together, there are questions about how far segregation based on food choices will go.

“This is like the controversy where a nonvegetarian restaurant in Walkeshwar was forced to close down after protests from the predominantly vegetarian population of the area. The company is only trying to get more vegetarian clients. I do not know whether this will work,” said Shah.

The food segregation plans elicited sarcastic comments on social media. Archaeologist and historian Dr Kurush Dalal, who describes himself as a culinary anthropologist, put out a message on X, asking, “Does Deepinder of Zomato know that all salt is non-vegetarian? There is nothing like ‘veg’ salt – it is full of foraminifera from the sea. And Himalayan Sea salt is pink because of high concentrations of dead marine animals…).”

Others suggested that Goyal should be allowed to pursue his business ideas.