Zomato has announced a zero-tolerance policy against dishes made with analogue dairy products on its platform, saying restaurants that fail to comply could be removed from the food delivery service.
The company said dishes that restaurant partners had declared as containing analogue dairy were removed from Zomato with immediate effect.
Restaurants asked to switch to natural dairy
Under the new policy, restaurant partners have been asked to take corrective steps, including replacing analogue dairy products with natural dairy. Where an immediate switch is not possible, restaurants have been asked to remove such dishes from their menus.
Zomato has also told restaurants to check product labels and ingredient declarations provided by suppliers. The aim is to verify what ingredients are actually being used and ensure that dishes listed on the platform accurately describe what customers receive.
“At Zomato, our core mission is better food for more people, and that means safeguarding customer health and upholding clear standards for what's listed and served by our restaurant partners. This policy reflects that commitment, one we're taking together with partners who share it,” Aditya Mangla, CEO, Zomato, said.
Restaurants that continue to remain non-compliant will be delisted from the platform, the company said.
What is analogue dairy?
Analogue dairy products are non-dairy alternatives in which some or all milk components are replaced with ingredients that do not come from milk.
Analogue paneer, for example, may contain vegetable oils, starches, plant proteins, emulsifiers and other additives instead of milk fat.
The products have faced increased scrutiny in recent months. In April, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) said analogue products could be sold if they were properly labelled. However, selling or serving a cheese analogue as “paneer”, or listing dishes made using such products as paneer, violates the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
Maharashtra also acted against analogue paneer
Maharashtra later announced a one-year ban on the manufacture and sale of artificial or analogue paneer, citing public health concerns.
The state's enforcement drive between April 2025 and March 2026 found that 109 of 308 samples tested, or 35.4%, failed to meet prescribed standards. Of these, 79 were classified as sub-standard and 30 as unsafe.