Zomato has announced a zero-tolerance policy against the sale of dishes containing analogue dairy products on its platform, saying restaurants that fail to comply could be delisted.
Maharashtra subsequently announced a one-year ban on the manufacture and sale of artificial or analogue paneer, citing public health concerns. The state said its enforcement drive between April 2025 and March 2026 found that 109 of 308 analysed samples, or 35.4%, failed to meet prescribed standards. Of these, 79 were classified as sub-standard and 30 as unsafe.
With immediate effect, dishes that restaurant partners have declared as containing analogue dairy have been removed from Zomato, the food delivery platform said in a release on Monday.
Under the new policy, restaurants have been asked to take corrective measures, including switching to natural dairy products and removing items containing analogue dairy from their menus where an immediate transition is not possible. “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. The issue has come under increased scrutiny in recent months.
This policy reflects that commitment, one we’re taking together with partners who share it,” Aditya Mangla, CEO, Zomato, said. The company said restaurants that remain non-compliant will be delisted from the platform. In April, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) clarified that while analogue products can be sold when accurately labelled, selling or serving a cheese analogue as “paneer”, or listing dishes made with analogue products as paneer, violates the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
