Rudd, who is rumoured to have a sharp temper, downplayed the incident when it was raised during a news conference on Thursday in London, where he was attending the G-20 Summit.
"As I recall it ... I had a discussion with, I think, one of the attendants on the provision of food," Rudd said. "It didn't last very long and if anyone was offended by that, including the attendant concerned, of course, I apologise."
Rudd said he apologised to the crew at the time and told a member of the crew not to worry about the language he had used. He also said he did not see any tears.
Australia's Daily Telegraph newspaper reported that the incident occurred on a Royal Australian Air Force VIP flight from Papua New Guinea to Australia in January.
Rudd had reportedly requested a meal with no red meat in line with a diet he was on.
The paper said the 23-year-old flight attendant serving him was reduced to tears after the prime minister berated her when he received the wrong meal.
The newspaper cited an official incident report that said the crew was not aware of the meal request.
The incident prompted senior opposition lawmaker Tony Abbott to dub the prime minister "Kevin Rude."
"We expect graciousness from our leaders," Abbott told Australian Broadcasting Corp radio on Friday. "There is a toxic side to our prime minister."
A book published last year, Howard's End, says Rudd has a vile temper and breaks into swearing rants in his office when things go wrong.
The book, co-authored by Peter van Onselen and Phillip Senior, details the 2007 federal election and Rudd's win over long-serving Prime Minister John Howard.
Asked on Thursday if he had a bad temper, Rudd responded that everyone makes mistakes.
"I'm not perfect," Rudd said. "We're all human, we all make mistakes - your prime minister included."
