Zomato Cracks Down on Analogue Dairy Ingredients

Zomato announced on Monday its decision to prohibit dishes containing analogue dairy on its platform, enforcing a zero-tolerance policy. The company has begun removing items declared by restaurant partners as containing these ingredients and reserves the right to delist non-compliant establishments. Analogue paneer and cheese are products where milk fat and solids are replaced with vegetable oils, starches, and emulsifiers, offering a lower-cost alternative to natural dairy.

This policy shift aligns with a growing regulatory trend. Chhattisgarh was the first state to ban analogue paneer, with Maharashtra following suit with a one-year prohibition after many samples failed compliance tests. Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, and Karnataka have since issued similar bans. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has also directed businesses to cease selling analogue cheese as paneer and disclose its use, with a nationwide ban reportedly under consideration.