I really fail to understand how they didn’t know as it’s clearly (yet with the wrong code) displayed on their Crew devices.
if all of theirs didn’t work which is unlikely then they should have asked for a list from the ground staff.
asking everyone individually is just not right

equally if they were that overbooked, a good SCCM would spot that before leaving base and get enough meals ordered. Different if the airport sells last minute upgrades, which they shouldn’t if not enough meals are loaded or at least inform said Customers there ain’t be a meal loaded, which they rarely do, of course