Delivery of non-veg burger to vegetarian: Mc Donal fined

NEW DELHI: US-based fastfood giant McDonald has been held guilty of hurting religious sentiments by a consumer forum here which asked it to pay Rs 10,000 as compensation for supplying a non-vegetarian burger to a woman who is vegetarian.

"It goes without saying that people who are totally vegetarian, consumption of non-vegetarian stuff causes aversion and hurts their feelings," S L Khanna, President of the south-west Delhi District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, said in a recent order.

"McDonald Family Restaurant (of Vasant Kunj here) by having sent non-vegetarian stuff against the order of vegetarian stuff to complainant Vimal Launaich Chaudhary has hurt her religious feelings," the forum said, directing the fastfood company to pay Rs 10,000 as compensation in a month.

According to the complaint, Chaudhary, a vegetarian and the follower of Arya Samaj, had placed an order with the restaurant for 'Veg Surprise' and 'Aloo Tikki Burger' and paid Rs 79 to the delivery boy.

After consuming some part of the burger, she felt some unusual smell and started vomitting, she had alleged.

Chaudhary, who did not eat even eggs, sent a legal notice to the restaurant seeking compensation of Rs 60,000 on account of mental agony and hurt caused to her religious sentiments.

As her grievances were not addressed by the restaurant, she approached the consumer forum which allowed her complaint.

The forum, in an ex-parte order as the fastfood joint did not contest the complaint, held that religious sentiments of the complainant were hurt.