New Delhi: On Monday, Zomato announced a zero-tolerance policy against restaurants selling dishes made with analogue dairy products, including synthetic cheese and fake paneer. In a press release, the company said that such items would be delisted from its platform with immediate effect.
“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,” said Aditya Mangla, the company’s chief executive. “This policy reflects that commitment, one we’re taking together with partners who share it.”
Under the new policy, restaurants listed on Zomato have to use genuine dairy products in dishes described as containing paneer, cheese or other dairy ingredients. If a restaurant cannot make the change immediately, it has to remove those dishes from its menu.
Restaurants that continue to sell dishes containing analogue dairy could also be removed from Zomato.
The move comes as food authorities have stepped up action against the use of dairy substitutes without proper disclosure. In Maharashtra, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), under Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, has been conducting raids and seizing suspected counterfeit dairy products. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has also been looking into the issue.
Zomato said its new policy is part of a broader focus on healthier food choices and greater transparency for customers, and is consistent with applicable regulatory requirements.
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What are analogue dairy products?
Analogue cheese and paneer products are designed to resemble genuine dairy products in appearance, texture and taste. For restaurants, they can be cheaper and help reduce costs, particularly in a competitive food-delivery market.
But customers may not know what they are actually eating. A customer ordering a paneer dish may expect it to contain pure paneer. Unless a restaurant clearly discloses that it is using an analogue product, customers may have little way of knowing what ingredients are actually being used.
Zomato has now placed the responsibility on restaurants to verify the products they source from suppliers by checking product labels and ingredient declarations and to ensure that their menu descriptions accurately reflect the food being served.
The platform has also made clear that restaurants cannot simply continue listing such dishes and wait for enforcement action.
(Edited by Maryam Hassan)