Pork only food option on Israel flight

LONDON, Feb. 22 (UPI) -- A 4-hour easyJet flight from Tel Aviv to London was mistakenly loaded only with food that its passengers who keep kosher could not eat, officials said.

Victor Kaufman, 25, of East Finchley, England, said he couldn't believe what he was hearing when the crew announced the only two meal choices on his flight last weekend -- ham melts and bacon baguettes, London newspapers The Jewish Chronicle and The Sun reported Tuesday.

"I think they need a lesson or two on cultural awareness if they expand their routes into the Middle East. It is not just Jewish passengers who do not eat pork but Muslim ones, too. I couldn't eat anything," said Kaufman, adding he wrote a complaint to the company.

An easyJet spokeswoman apologized to the passengers.

The route began in November, and a month before the first flight a kosher menu had been presented that was provided by Hermolis, a kosher caterer in London, the newspapers said.

"For flights to Israel, easyJet's standard practice is to offer kosher and vegetarian sandwiches on board. We do also offer non-kosher products on board these flights, but it is our policy not to load any pork products," said an easyJet spokeswoman.