Zomato has decided to remove listings of dishes made with analog dairy from its platform. Learn about fake paneer, FSSAI regulations, and new guidelines for restaurants.
Zomato will no longer sell fake paneer.
Online food ordering company Zomato has banned the sale of dishes made with analog dairy on its platform. The company has stated that it has a zero-tolerance policy on this issue. Restaurants violating these rules may be removed from their listings.
Which dishes were removed?
According to Zomato, restaurants that self-reported the use of analog dairy in some of their dishes have been immediately removed from the platform. The company says this decision was made with customer health and transparency in food information in mind.
What should restaurants do now?
Zomato has urged restaurant partners to use authentic dairy products. If they cannot do so immediately, remove dishes containing analog dairy from the menu. Re-check product labels and ingredient information from suppliers. Provide accurate information on Zomato about the ingredients used. Restaurants that fail to comply with these rules may be removed from the Zomato platform.
What is analog dairy?
Analog dairy products are products that use ingredients other than milk, but can taste and resemble real dairy. For example, analog cheese may use vegetable oils, starches, and other ingredients instead of milk. Such a product is not illegal in itself, but it is illegal to market it as real cheese or dairy products. Clear information is essential for consumers.
Why has the debate on analog cheese increased?
The discussion surrounding analog cheese has been growing in the country for some time now. In April 2026, the FSSAI issued a public notice regarding this matter. It stated that selling analog or cheese analogs under the name of paneer is a violation of regulations. The FSSAI instructed restaurants and other food businesses to clearly state non-dairy or analog ingredients on menus if a product uses dairy instead of non-dairy ingredients. This month, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) also sent a notice to the FSSAI and all states and union territories regarding analog cheese. The Commission sought information on its uses, nutrition, health effects, and testing methods.
The matter has already been linked to Zomato.
In October last year, an issue surfaced on social media about Zomato's Hyperpure service, which supplies food to restaurants, selling analog cheese. The company was subsequently criticized.
