A Hindu man from the Midlands who has never eaten meat in his life was served beef at a Pizza Hut restaurant. Abhishek Bhartiya, 30, visited the chain’s Corner house restaurant in Nottingham on Sunday 17th February with his wife Prerna Goel.
The disappointing diner was left devastated after the blunder at the fast food giant.
The couple had decided to have the buffet option and were told all pizzas with a green handle were vegetarian after specifically asking staff.
After choosing their slices they returned to their table where Mr Bhartiya took a bite from his pizza. He quickly realised it contained beef.
Mr Bhartiya, who has been a vegetarian since he was born, said: “I have never eaten meat.
The couple told a member of staff straight away and felt so upset by the incident that they decided they could not eat there any more and had to leave.
They were handed a receipt for the full price of the bill.
They still paid full price for their meal but left the Forman Street venue feeling very disheartened and upset.
“I trusted what they had said and decided to try it as it had a green handle.
“My wife noticed straight away that it was beef but I had taken a bite.
“I am very troubled by the fact I ate beef. It is the very sentiment of my religion not to eat beef as we worship cows.
“I had never eaten meat in my life until this moment and it has left me very upset.
“It is shocking that this could have happened.”
Mr Bhartiya, a software engineer, added: “I couldn’t bring myself to eat anything else for the rest of the day.
“I can see that the handles must have been switched accidentally but they told me so convincingly that the green handles were all vegetables.
“I want other people to know that they should be more aware as this system clearly isn’t 100 percent perfect.
“I wouldn’t want this to happen to anyone else.”
Pizza Hut said it was aware of the incident and apologised for the problem caused to Mr Bhartiya.
