Delta to offer plant-based food options onboard

Delta Air Lines is expanding its inflight food offerings, with the airline offering plant-based food options from Impossible Foods and Black Sheep Foods.

The new options will launch this month alongside the reintroduction of hot meals for Delta One and First Class customers on select flights 900 miles and greater.

So what are they offering?

Impossible Burger

Delta is putting its own spin on the groundbreaking Impossible Burger with a green chilli spice-rubbed burger topped with caramelized onion chutney and Manchego cheese served on a brioche roll. Available on selected flights over 900 miles.

Black Sheep Foods Lamb Meatballs

Black Sheep Foods plant-based lamb meatballs are inspired by the highest-quality heritage breed lamb; the Greek-inspired dish is served with spinach rice and feta. These will be served for a limited time on select flights 900 miles and greater departing San Francisco in partnership with Souvla.

Impossible Meatballs Made From Plants

Impossible Meatballs are made by Impossible Foods with a mix of Impossible Burger and Impossible Sausage and seasoned with a savoury homestyle blend. The meatballs are served in a pomodoro sauce with orzo risotto, pesto cream, spinach and roasted tomatoes. These will be served on select flights 900 miles and greater departing New York-JFK and LGA in partnership with Union Square Events.

Cauliflower Cakes

Pan-fried cauliflower cakes made with riced cauliflower, rapini and parmesan are served with creamy pesto orzo, roasted tomatoes, and toasted hazelnuts. These will be served on select flights 900 miles and greater departing Seattle.

Warm Seasonal Vegetable Plate

This vegetable-packed dish features fresh broccolini, roasted button mushrooms, grilled heirloom carrots, grilled red onions and roasted cherry tomatoes, served with herb-scented Israeli couscous and a lemon herb butter. Thes will be served on select flights 900 miles and greater.

In Quotes

Kristen Manion Taylor, SVP – In-Flight Service said on the food offerings launch

“Not only are plant-based meats like Impossible™ Burger delicious to eat, but they’re also often better for the environment, using far less land and water to produce,” said 

“These new options are one part of Delta’s broader mission to promote a wellness-focused travel journey.”

Expanding options

With people choosing to expand their tastes and eating habits, it is welcoming to see an airline increase its offering to passengers who have decided to make that adjustment.

It’ll be interesting how many of these stay in the longer term – with only two of the items supposedly network-wide, whilst the rest are regional options. Suffice to say, these could be test markets to see how popular they are, and now they expand across the network if viable.

Impossible Burger and Impossible Meatballs photos courtesy of Impossible Foods

*Lamb Meatballs photo courtesy of Black Sheep Foods; Credit: Isabel Baer

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