Originally Posted by themicah
A couple corrections to the above:
The "pasta" choice is NOT what is served if you request any of the vegetarian special meals. You will get a special meal that's been specially loaded for you and will have a label with your name, seat number, and meal request. You will not be able to choose from the regular selections, even if one is meatless. This is true on every airline I've ever flown, including both NW and KL.
There is no such thing as "vegan ovo-lacto." "Vegans" do not eat ANY animal product, including dairy and eggs. Ovo-lacto vegetarians will eat eggs and dairy.
It was explained to me that for cost-efficiency, NW regularly serves "pasta" as the second choice for coach meals, and uses it as a substitute for special request vegetarian meals. Beware, however, that it's not always the case. And sometimes "pasta" options have meat. On my recent flight to CDG, pasta had some kind of mystery sausage meat. Since I couldn't eat it, and they hadn't brought my veggie request, NW gave me miles instead.