United MileagePlus (Consolidated) - Question about food ingredients

Hi everyone

Long time reader and learned quite a bit from flyertalk. This is my first post so I apologize in advance if I make any mistakes in posting the question in an incorrect way. I tried searching and couldn't find an answer. I also called the 1K desk and didn't get me anywhere. I am trying to find out the ingredients for the different vegetarian domestic meals United serves. Specifically if United uses eggs in their different pasta meals to make the actual pasta. Also if the ice cream that is used to make the ice cream sundaes contains eggs. I am already assuming the warm cookies they serve contains eggs.
Thank you in advance for the help.

Hi everyone

Long time reader and learned quite a bit from flyertalk. This is my first post so I apologize in advance if I make any mistakes in posting the question in an incorrect way. I tried searching and couldn't find an answer. I also called the 1K desk and didn't get me anywhere. I am trying to find out the ingredients for the different vegetarian domestic meals United serves. Specifically if United uses eggs in their different pasta meals to make the actual pasta. Also if the ice cream that is used to make the ice cream sundaes contains eggs. I am already assuming the warm cookies they serve contains eggs.
Thank you in advance for the help.

I doubt you're going to find information this specific. The most you're going likely going to get on the special meals are what they designate on the web site - http://www.united.com/web/en-US/content/travel/inflight/dining/special/default.aspx.

I just realized though you are talking about domestic. Without special meals, you're best bet is probably to plan to bring something on your own, or perhaps from one of the airport restaurants to go that oyu know is free of eggs.

LAdude, welcome to FlyerTalk! I don't think you'll be able to get any specific information from United on domestic meal ingredients. One reason for this is that they use different vendors at different airports, and it would probably be very expensive for them to insist on very specific ingredients to be used.

The bottom line is that unless a meal is tagged as meeting a special dietary requirement, you should not assume anything about the ingredients. And, as emcampbe already mentioned, special meals are not available for domestic flights any more.

Although, with enough digging, you may be able to find out which company caters flights ex-LAX and get in touch with them for your answer. That will give you a good idea for a large chunk of your flights (all the ones you take out of LA).

Welcome to FT! ^

In the US, "vegetarian" food generally has eggs. If you don't want eggs, ask for "vegan".

Hi everyone

Long time reader and learned quite a bit from flyertalk. This is my first post so I apologize in advance if I make any mistakes in posting the question in an incorrect way. I tried searching and couldn't find an answer. I also called the 1K desk and didn't get me anywhere. I am trying to find out the ingredients for the different vegetarian domestic meals United serves. Specifically if United uses eggs in their different pasta meals to make the actual pasta. Also if the ice cream that is used to make the ice cream sundaes contains eggs. I am already assuming the warm cookies they serve contains eggs.
Thank you in advance for the help.

LADude, I started a short thread on this exact topic back in Feb for the same reason. My wife is severely allergic to eggs... I flew her biz class back and forth from ORD-SIN (which takes 20+ hours each way including a stop at NRT). Wanted UA to tell me the ingredients in the food. They claimed they can't do that. The FA's on board had no info whatsoever. I was appalled that UA can't have their food service do what mcdonald's and most other restaurants do and just provide a list of ingredients. Earlier this month wife and kids flew back and forth to China from ORD..... this time because the kids were there my wife was able to pick and choose amongst food selections off various orders (each kid ordered something different and they all shared). Still a pain since eggs are often hidden, but it's all we could do. The vegan meal would also work but we ordered that once and to call it "food" would have been a stretch.

Airlines ought to recognize how careful people are being these days about what they eat. I think this eventually will change, but for now it's bring your own or take your chances.

Wanted UA to tell me the ingredients in the food. They claimed they can't do that. The FA's on board had no info whatsoever. I was appalled that UA can't have their food service do what mcdonald's and most other restaurants do and just provide a list of ingredients.

Sorry, but UA is not a restaurant. Try your luck with DL, AA, or whoever else, but they are not going to be any better in being able to tell you the food ingredients. Perhaps a top-tier Asian airline might be able to tell you this, but even then, I'm not so sure.

If someone has specific allergies, the best thing to do is to either order a special meal that satisfies those requirements (when available), or bring something from onboard yourself that you know will work for you.

Sorry, but UA is not a restaurant. Try your luck with DL, AA, or whoever else, but they are not going to be any better in being able to tell you the food ingredients. Perhaps a top-tier Asian airline might be able to tell you this, but even then, I'm not so sure.

If someone has specific allergies, the best thing to do is to either order a special meal that satisfies those requirements (when available), or bring something from onboard yourself that you know will work for you.

I'm not arguing they're required to, and I recognize that other US carriers don't do it either. But it would be a great customer service and frankly not that hard to implement. They outsource the food prep anyway, and the menu items are developed by chefs from well-known restaurants which have to do this all the time. Just require the meal vendor to put an ingredient card in the meal packet so we know what's there, that's all. ORD-SIN is a 21 hour journey, and if you are paying for business or first class it doesn't seem too much to ask. Might even help them sell more seats toward the front, by providing a change that people with food allergies would like. We fly a lot and we would choose an airline premium cabin that does this over airlines that didn't even if it cost us more.

I really don't see how hard this would be except for the legal disclaimers required that this is how they request it to be created, but occasionally the catering company may substitute without notice etc, and I'd imagine this is exactly why it is not given.

If you can get a vegan meal then great. Otherwise I'd trust nothing. I'm assuming there's a possible egg allergy..and depending on its severity I would just bring my own food to be safe.. or only eat things on the plate that are certain to be egg free.

This is a good thought I'll try this thanks

Thanks for the replies it was helpful. I'll stick with bringing my own food or purchase the tapas or savory boxes. Safest way to go.

ORD-SIN is a 21 hour journey, and if you are paying for business or first class it doesn't seem too much to ask. Might even help them sell more seats toward the front, by providing a change that people with food allergies would like. We fly a lot and we would choose an airline premium cabin that does this over airlines that didn't even if it cost us more.

If you're flying ORD-SIN, they have special meals, at least one of which would meet the majority of food allergies pax might have. And yes, they offer these for F or C, too.

when I get a gluten free meal, any packaged product comes with a list of ingredients; but that is a special meal.
in the past, when my gluten free did not make it on board, the flight attendants could not tell me what was in the other meals.
If you are very allergic or sensitive then don't trust anything that is served unless it is packaged and marked clearly as free of whatever you are sensitive to or whatever you choose to eliminate from your diet. Otherwise, just eat what is obviously something you can eat.

As somebody else said, vegan is usually vegetarian with no animal products (eggs, milk and their derivatives)

If someone cares about what they're eating, I suggest the only reasonable strategy is to bring your own food. Even if UA told you what the ingredients were, you can't trust that information. There are far too many variables from source to plate, and it's not a priority for UA. Further, UA is notoriously pathetic about failing to honor special meal choices. So, you can't trust them to deliver what they promise. Therefore, if you want to eat, and it's important you control what you eat, you've got to bring your own food. With enough effort and creative planning, it's possible to design a TSA-proof meal plan that will last for 20 hours, and most trips don't last that long.