A United Airlines First Class meal has gone viral after a Google scientist claimed he was served what appeared to be “3D-printed meat,” sparking widespread ridicule and criticism of the airline’s in-flight catering.
Peyman Milanfar, head of Google’s computational imaging team, shared a photo of the meal he received during a long-haul United flight on January 4, describing it as a “bowl of sadness.” The image showed mixed greens, sliced cucumbers, an uncut tomato, small cubes of yellow cheese, green seeds, and pale slices of an unidentifiable protein.
“Between the 3D-printed mystery meat, the cafeteria cheese cubes, and the whole tomato I need a chainsaw to cut, this is genuinely unbelievable,” Milanfar wrote in a post on X.
The post quickly went viral, garnering more than 15 million views and drawing sharp criticism from social media users, many of whom questioned the quality of United’s First Class service.
“That looks like it was meant for a turtle, not a human,” one user commented, while another joked that it appeared “less appetising than a frozen meal.”
United Airlines has not confirmed or denied whether any form of 3D-printed food is used in its in-flight meals. The airline has also not publicly disclosed detailed ingredient lists for individual dishes. The Daily Mail reported that it had contacted United for comment and was awaiting a response.
As the criticism grew, passengers flying with other airlines, including Delta, Turkish Airlines, and Emirates, began sharing photos of their own in-flight meals, highlighting more traditional presentations featuring clearly identifiable meats, rice, vegetables, and plated salads.
Some users also questioned the unusual triangular shape of the whole tomato included in Milanfar’s meal.
According to United, complimentary meals are offered in First Class on most domestic flights longer than approximately 900 miles, including flights exceeding five hours. The airline’s website describes these offerings as “hot entrées” served with salad, bread, dessert, and beverages, and notes that passengers may be able to pre-order certain meal options in advance.
While Milanfar suggested the meat appeared to be 3D-printed, no airline, including United, has stated that such technology is used in their meal preparation. However, United announced in 2022 a partnership with Impossible Foods to expand its plant-based offerings, including menu items such as the “Impossible Meatball Bowl.”
At the time, United’s Managing Director of Hospitality and Planning Aaron McMillan said the airline aimed to ensure its food offerings evolved with passenger preferences and exceeded expectations.
Unimpressed with his experience, Milanfar publicly challenged United Airlines to refund the cost of his First Class ticket, pledging to donate the money to World Central Kitchen, a nonprofit organisation that provides meals to communities affected by disasters.
“Let’s turn this culinary disaster into a humanitarian win. Ball’s in your court,” he wrote on January 5.
As of now, Milanfar has not disclosed whether United Airlines has responded to his request.