Zomato Bans Dishes Made With Analogue Dairy Products

Food delivery platform Zomato has implemented a new policy banning restaurants from listing dishes made with analogue dairy products. Establishments that fail to comply with the directive risk being removed from the platform.

The company has already begun delisting dishes that restaurants have declared as containing analogue dairy. Restaurants are instructed to switch to natural dairy alternatives. If an immediate switch is not feasible, the affected dishes must be removed from their menus.

Additionally, restaurants are required to review supplier labels and ingredient declarations to verify the components used and ensure their Zomato listings accurately reflect the food served. This move follows increased scrutiny of cheese analogues in India, with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) issuing guidelines on their labeling and use.

Zomato's policy appears to exceed the FSSAI's requirements, which focus on disclosure and proper labeling. The platform is mandating either an ingredient replacement or the complete removal of non-compliant dishes. The company has not specified how it will independently verify restaurant compliance with these new ingredient-level requirements, such as through testing or audits.