Zomato Bans Analogue Dairy Dishes on Platform Amid Food Safety Scrutiny

MUMBAI — Food delivery platform Zomato has banned the sale of analogue dairy dishes on its platform amid heightened regulatory scrutiny regarding food safety. The company has instructed restaurant partners to transition to natural dairy products or risk being delisted from the service.

In a statement issued on Monday, the company confirmed that items declared by restaurant partners as containing analogue dairy have already been removed from the platform. Analogue dairy dishes replace real milk and cheese with cheaper substitutes, such as vegetable oil.

The decision comes as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) departments in states including Maharashtra and Karnataka step up enforcement actions against eateries, canteens, and online platforms. The regulatory crackdown has targeted food safety and hygiene violations along with the sale of toxic items, leading authorities to seal warehouses and suspend company licenses across the sector. Major brands, including Domino’s, have also faced scrutiny amid these actions.

Zomato stated that the move aligns with regulatory mandates and customer health priorities. The company noted that this policy builds on its broader focus on healthier food choices and greater transparency for customers, consistent with applicable regulatory requirements.

Reactions within the restaurant industry remain divided regarding the prohibition. AD Singh, owner of Olive Bar and Kitchen, noted that the use of such substitutes should remain acceptable provided businesses maintain full disclosure, stating that as long as restaurants clearly mention that they are using analogue dishes, it should not be a problem.