Zomato bans analogue dairy dishes from platform in India

Zomato has implemented a zero-tolerance policy banning dishes containing analogue dairy products from its platform in India, effective August 31, 2026. The food delivery giant announced that restaurants must immediately switch to natural dairy ingredients or remove affected items from their menus, with non-compliant establishments facing potential delisting. The policy targets analogue dairy, which refers to products designed to resemble conventional dairy items like paneer and cheese while partially or completely replacing milk components with non-milk ingredients such as vegetable fats, palm oil, starches, and plant proteins. These products are not automatically illegal under national food safety regulations, but they must be properly declared and cannot be marketed deceptively as standard dairy products. Zomato CEO Aditya Mangla stated the decision aligns with the company's core mission. "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," he said.