United Airlines Adds Plant-Based Options to Menu to Meet Growing Demand

United Airlines announced new meal options for vegans at a Chicago event on October 25. The company is focusing on updating its menu to focus on healthier meals and additional plant-based offerings.

Executive Chef Gerry Gulli is in charge of the new menu. According to CNBC, the company will offer choices including “vegan stuffed grape leaves with dolma infused yogurt” and ” red beet hummus with roasted vegetables.” These items will be coming to flights starting in 2020. Access to produce, celebrity chefs and customer feedback have led to these new changes.

United CEO Oscar Munoz said of the updated meal plan, “We are the only airline in the U.S. that has our own kitchens, because we like to control our quality as much as possible, and we are constantly trying to improve.” This is a significant undertaking for the major airline. They serve 55 meals each year, employ 2,500 catering employees and have an additional 6,000 catering employees through partnerships around the world.

Plant-based options are becoming more plentiful even in the sky. United competitors‘ Emirates, Aegean, Air New Zealand, and Turkish Airlines also offer plant-based options. Air New Zealand served the Impossible Burger to Business Premier customers on flights from Auckland to Los Angeles. Emirates reported that in economy class, vegan meals are the third most commonly requested special meal.

Plant-based diets continue to increase in popularity across countries and industries. Better for your health and for the planet, the increased availability of plant-based food benefits all of us. Read more about the benefits of a plant-based diet in One Green Planet. Check out these articles:

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