Subheadline: The food delivery platform said declared analogue cheese, paneer and other dairy products will be removed immediately, with non-compliant restaurant partners facing delisting.
Zomato has announced an immediate zero-tolerance policy against the listing and sale of dishes containing analogue cheese, analogue paneer and other analogue dairy products on its platform, saying restaurants that do not comply may be delisted.
The food delivery aggregator said dishes that restaurant partners have already declared as containing “analogue dairy” have been turned off from the platform with immediate effect. It also said restaurants that continue to list or supply non-compliant products could face delisting and other action under its policies and applicable law.
Analogue dishes use cheaper or alternative substitutes in place of traditional ingredients while retaining a similar appearance and eating profile. In the case of analogue dairy products, substitutes such as plant oils may be used instead of milk, cheese or other conventional dairy ingredients. The policy concerns how such products are represented to customers through restaurant menus and delivered orders.
In a communication issued to merchants on Monday, Zomato said its priority was to ensure that customers receive food that is “accurately represented, safe and meets the expected quality standards”. The company said the policy was being implemented to strengthen transparency and food quality in line with food safety and regulatory requirements.
Zomato asked restaurant partners to take immediate steps, including transitioning to natural dairy products or removing dishes containing analogue dairy products where such a transition was not immediately feasible. It also asked restaurants to review product labels and ingredient declarations supplied by vendors to verify the ingredients being used and ensure that menu listings accurately represent the food being sold.
The announcement comes amid renewed attention to food safety enforcement. The report cited a state-wide crackdown by the Food and Drug Administration in Maharashtra and inspections by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India in five-star hotels in Delhi. The supplied announcement did not provide details of the number of establishments or products covered by those actions.
Zomato said it reserved the right to recover losses, costs, damages or expenses incurred because of non-compliant products delivered to customers. The company did not disclose the number of restaurant partners or menu items affected by the immediate delisting process.
Aditya Mangla, Zomato’s chief executive officer, said the policy was intended to safeguard customer health and uphold clear standards for what is listed and served by restaurant partners. “This policy reflects that commitment, one we’re taking together with partners who share it,” he said.
The platform’s stated next steps require restaurant partners to review supplier labels and ingredient declarations, change products where possible, and remove affected dishes from their menus where compliance cannot be established immediately.
